BINAY: USE LESSONS LEARNED DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PREVENT ESCALATION OF ‘WALKING PNEUMONIA’

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Nancy Binay said on Monday (11 Dec 2023) that the government must use the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and apply the precautions to prevent escalation of “walking pneumonia” and other respiratory illnesses.

“Sana gamitin natin ang mga lessons na napulot natin dito para ma-manage nang mabuti ang mga nakahahawang sakit at hindi na naman maging public health emergency,” Binay said.

The Department of Health (DOH) recently reported that there have been four cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, also known as “walking pneumonia,” from January to November this year.

The DOH clarified that the four cases were not new and had been detected among those who got infected with influenza-like illness (ILI).

Binay said that given the high number of respiratory cases and another expected increase in January, the government should put in place the appropriate and necessary measures to ensure the public health system is not pushed to the limit.

The senator also echoed the health department’s call for the public to observe minimum public health protocols to avoid being infected with the disease, especially as the holiday season approaches.

“Holiday season na at kasagsagan na rin ng mga Christmas party, reunion, at iba pang social gathering. Gawin na rin sana nating Christmas gift sa bawat isa ang pagiging mindful na maaari tayong makahawa,” Binay said.

(ai/mnm)