MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) said the so-called “super flu” recently detected in the Philippines is not a cause for alarm, even as health authorities continue to monitor the emergence of a new influenza variant.

Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said all 17 cases detected around July last year have already recovered.

“Not alarming, but there is a new variant out there,” Herbosa said when asked about the “super flu” during a Palace press briefing.

He explained that influenza is generally a self-limiting illness, but may pose greater risks to the elderly and individuals with underlying medical conditions, underscoring the importance of vaccination.

“As we very well know, flu is a self-limiting illness, unless mayroon kang medical condition, elderly ka, so we still recommend the use of the flu vaccine,” Herbosa said.

The health chief particularly advised Filipinos traveling to temperate countries or regions experiencing colder climates to take extra precautions, noting reports of the spread of the so-called “super flu” in parts of North America and Europe.

“I think the warning I will give is for Filipinos who will travel to temperate countries, who will go to North America, to the UK. If you’re going there, be knowledgeable that there is a spread of the super flu in that area,” he said.

Herbosa recommended that travelers get vaccinated using the northern hemisphere flu vaccine.

“Kung magta-travel kayo, bibisita kayo sa kamag-anak ninyo sa malamig, winter places, get the shot — the northern hemisphere shot, not the southern hemisphere shot,” he stressed.

Reports indicate that the so-called “super flu,” officially identified as subclade K, is a variant of the H3N2 virus. H3N2, a subtype of Influenza A, is known to cause seasonal flu outbreaks and, in some cases, more severe illness.

The DOH said it continues to closely monitor developments related to the new variant while maintaining existing influenza surveillance and prevention measures.