Private hospitals report spike in flu patients

MANILA, Philippines — Private hospitals are seeing more patients with influenza-like illnesses this flu season.

“There has been an increase of around 10 to 15 percent (of flu cases) from last month,” Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc., said.

Most of the patients are children and seniors, he noted.

The Department of Health earlier said there is no flu outbreak in the country.

From Sept. 28 to Oct. 11, the agency recorded 6,457 cases of influenza-like illnesses nationwide, lower than last year’s 8,628.