Manila, Oct. 14 -- Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Tuesday clarified that there is no outbreak of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in the country, stressing that the current increase in cases is part of the usual seasonal flu trend during the colder months.

"During this time, the '-ber' months, this is our flu season. It's our ILIs, talagang dumarami 'yan (they really increase)," Herbosa said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.

"Wala pong any type of outbreak na ILI (There is no any type of ILI outbreak); it's the seasonal flu, and we still have to be careful," he said.

He added there is a normal seasonal rise in ILIs every year and they refer to a group of diseases with symptoms such as cough, colds, fever, s...