Manila, Jan. 7 -- The Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday it is not alarmed by reports of a "super flu" circulating abroad but advised Filipinos traveling to temperate countries to take extra precautions, including vaccination.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the Philippines had already detected 17 cases of the new flu variant last year, but all patients have recovered.

"We've actually detected about July, August, about 17 cases that were determined to be of the new subclass of the super flu. All of them have recovered," Herbosa said during a Palace press briefing.

He said influenza remains a seasonal and generally self-limiting illness, except among high-risk individuals, such as the elderly and those with underlying medic...