Flu alert up, disinfect,

get vax shots – DOH

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)— It may seem to be just common cold, but if there goes with it extreme body pains and fever, it could be flu, says Department of Health’s (DOH) Development Management Officer and doctor Van Phillip Baton.

Flu, a viral disease, is a respiratory infection which affects the nose, throat and lungs, explains Dr. Baton, whose office is also tracking seasonal diseases, including flu, which has manifested itself with the colder days.

Although relatively with fewer cases in 2025 than the previous year, flu, as with respiratory infections sit among the province’s top diseases to watch, the DOH said.

Due to the cold climate, the body temperature which is normally hot, goes down, and here, opportunistic infections that could not survive in the heat, come in. Add to that the usual tendency to stay out of the cold, indoors with windows closed where there is limited activity and less circulation, the environment ripens for the infectious virus to double, he explained.

Flu is typically characterized by the abrupt onset of constitutional and upper respiratory tract signs and symptoms like fever, chills, muscle pains, headache, malaise, non-productive cough, sore throat, and rhinitis, according to the Center for Disease Control website.

Although it can manifest to others like a common cold, flu can be serious especially to adults whose bodies have adapted to the pains, which makes flu even more dangerous with its complications.

Among flu vulnerable groups are kids who may not have built stronger antibodies, elderly with weakened antibodies, the immune-compromised and pregnant women, he said.

However, much of this depends still on the state of health of persons exposed to the infection, he also hinted.

Many people who are sick with flu do not manifest fever, especially those who are older, but what is dangerous is when opportunistic infections get in, Dr. Baton said.

While most people can recover from the disease within 3-7 days, cough and general feeling of discomfort can persist for weeks, especially in older people and those with chronic lung disease.

When left unattended, flu can cause a wide range of complications that can result in severe disease, the physician head of DOH Bohol warns.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa PIA, Dr. Baton, hinted that this flu is bacteria-caused disease, treatment is rather focused, not on the virus, but to that which prevents one from getting sicker, after the introduction of the virus.

The flu virus spreads from direct or indirect contact with someone else who’s infected, getting the droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks, and when one touches infected materials (fomites) handled by the patient.

For this, most common prevention includes using facemasks.

This protects the people around the patient and keeps the virus screened, explains Dr Baton, recalling the same line of defense against coronavirus which is also a viral disease.

Against fomites, the DOH official also recommends frequent hand-washing with soap and water or alcohol.

For prevention, other than eating healthy and taking food supplements like vitamins and minerals, having good hydration and adapting a healthy lifestyle, Dr. Baton batted for vaccinations.

Flu vaccines generally give one a year-round protection and while some may not be immune from the virus, the symptoms may manifest but the vaccine will shorten the length of illness and prevent the onset of other opportunistic infections, he said.

And while most people who get flu can manage it at home and often don't need to see a healthcare professional, those at a risk of complications, should see a healthcare professional right away, he advised. (PIAbohol)

DISINFECT, EAT HEALTHY. As the DOT raises the alarm against flu virus infections, Dr Van Phillip Baton says eat health, hydrate right and exercise, while getting flu protection through vaccines that are available against influenza. Although flu used to be among the top killers of the human race, it is now among the vaccine-preventable diseases. (PIABohol)