Latest news with #Herbosa
Daily Tribune
an hour ago
- General
- Daily Tribune
Philippines warns of health emergency as HIV cases soar
AFP | Manila, Philippines Philippine medical authorities on Tuesday warned of a looming "public health emergency" as HIV infections have soared this year, with young males especially hard-hit. On average, 57 new cases a day were tallied in the country of 117 million people over the first three months of 2025, a 50 percent jump from a year earlier, health department data shows. "We now have the highest number of new cases here in the Western Pacific," Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said in a video message released Tuesday. "What is frightening is, our youth make up many of the new cases," he said. "It would be in our interest to (declare) a public health emergency, a national emergency for HIV to mobilise the entire society, the whole of government to help us in this campaign to reduce the number of new HIV cases," Herbosa added. The health department said 95 percent of newly reported cases were male, with 33 percent aged 15-24 and 47 percent aged 25-34. The government did not explain the causes behind the surge, which it said had set back government attempts to hit global targets set by a United Nations campaign to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Under Philippine law, the president can declare a health emergency if an epidemic poses a threat to national security. The start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 was the last time that was done. Just 55 percent of those living with HIV in the Philippines have been diagnosed, the health department said, while only 66 percent of those diagnosed are on life-saving antiretroviral therapy. Sexual contact remains the predominant mode of transmission, with the bulk of cases since 2007 attributed to men having sex with men. HIV cases have been on the rise in the Philippines since 2021, with 252,800 people estimated to be living with HIV in the country by the end of this year.
Observer
12 hours ago
- General
- Observer
Philippines warns of health emergency as HIV cases soar
Philippine medical authorities on Tuesday warned of a looming "public health emergency" as HIV infections have soared this year, with young males especially hard-hit. On average, 57 new cases a day were tallied in the country of 117 million people over the first three months of 2025, a 50 percent jump from a year earlier, health department data shows. "We now have the highest number of new cases here in the Western Pacific," Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said in a video message released Tuesday. "What is frightening is, our youth make up many of the new cases," he said. "It would be in our interest to (declare) a public health emergency, a national emergency for HIV to mobilise the entire society, the whole of government to help us in this campaign to reduce the number of new HIV cases," Herbosa added. The health department said 95 percent of newly reported cases were male, with 33 percent aged 15-24 and 47 percent aged 25-34. The government did not explain the causes behind the surge, which it said had set back government attempts to hit global targets set by a United Nations campaign to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Under Philippine law, the president can declare a health emergency if an epidemic poses a threat to national security. The start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 was the last time that was done. Just 55 percent of those living with HIV in the Philippines have been diagnosed, the health department said, while only 66 percent of those diagnosed are on life-saving antiretroviral therapy. Sexual contact remains the predominant mode of transmission, with the bulk of cases since 2007 attributed to men having sex with men. HIV cases have been on the rise in the Philippines since 2021, with 252,800 people estimated to be living with HIV in the country by the end of this year.
The Sun
16 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Philippines warns of health emergency as HIV cases soar
MANILA: Philippine medical authorities on Tuesday warned of a looming 'public health emergency' as HIV infections have soared this year, with young males especially hard-hit. On average, 57 new cases a day were tallied in the country of 117 million people over the first three months of 2025, a 50 percent jump from a year earlier, health department data shows. 'We now have the highest number of new cases here in the Western Pacific,' Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said in a video message released Tuesday. 'What is frightening is, our youth make up many of the new cases,' he said. 'It would be in our interest to (declare) a public health emergency, a national emergency for HIV to mobilise the entire society, the whole of government to help us in this campaign to reduce the number of new HIV cases,' Herbosa added. The health department said 95 percent of newly reported cases were male, with 33 percent aged 15-24 and 47 percent aged 25-34. The government did not explain the causes behind the surge, which it said had set back government attempts to hit global targets set by a United Nations campaign to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Under Philippine law, the president can declare a health emergency if an epidemic poses a threat to national security. The start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 was the last time that was done. Just 55 percent of those living with HIV in the Philippines have been diagnosed, the health department said, while only 66 percent of those diagnosed are on life-saving antiretroviral therapy. Sexual contact remains the predominant mode of transmission, with the bulk of cases since 2007 attributed to men having sex with men. HIV cases have been on the rise in the Philippines since 2021, with 252,800 people estimated to be living with HIV in the country by the end of this year.
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Health
- GMA Network
DOH renews call for vape ban, sin tax hike
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Saturday reiterated their call to ban vape products and increase taxes on tobacco products as the country marked World "No Tobacco Day" and "National No Smoking Month." During the event held at the Philippine Heart Center, Herbosa reminded the public about the health risks of smoking, such as atherosclerosis, which may lead to heart attacks or strokes. This, as Herbosa shared that he was previously a smoker but had changed his mind after seeing his father bear the effects of smoking. 'After he died, I decided to go cold turkey… that means I also have the genes to develop lung cancer. If my dad dies of [it], I'm sure I'm going [to get] lung [cancer too], so I went cold turkey,' Herbosa shared. 'Doing cold turkey is not a common thing. I realized mas maraming bumabalik (that there are more people that return)…. We shouldn't hate the people that are smoking. We should hate the people who sell cigarettes and vaping to our children,' he added. Herbosa said that he will continue to push for the ban on vaping, similar to Singapore and Vietnam. "I think we should tell them to stop vaping. Bahala na siya what action they will take, because the law prohibits that,' he said. Health warning The Health Secretary also called on legislators to prioritize steps in mitigating smoking and recommended the use of plain paper packaging for nicotine products and an increase in sin tax. 'The graphic health warning [in cigarette boxes]… It doesn't help anymore. There are studies in other countries, they found that plain paper packaging was a better option kasi hindi siya attractive (because it wasn't attractive,) so parang walang gusto bumili kasi it's just a box,' Herbosa explained. 'We should also increase the tax. Why? Because the 29% prevalence [of smoking] before went down to 19%. It's [now] back to 24%, plus the people that vape. Yun ang problema eh (that is the problem)," said Herbosa. Advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Philippines and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP), in a statement on Saturday, also urged the congress to implement bills that strip tobacco products of their marketing appeal. The groups asked legislators to push for plain, uniform brown packaging with 90% graphic warnings on cigarettes. They also pushed for stricter regulations on Electronic Smoking Devices (ESDs). 'We cannot allow packaging to deceive our youth into addiction… This bill is about saving lives, and we are calling on our new lawmakers to act now. Every day of delay allows the industry to continue targeting children with colorful lies. Standardized Packaging is proven. It works, and it sends a message: no more manipulation, no more lies,' said ASH Philippines Executive Director Dr. Maricar Limpin. 'We see the damage tobacco and vaping cause every day. The lung insults are alarming and spare no one… Standardized packaging will help deglamorize these products and discourage young users before they become our next critical care patients,' added PCCP President Dr. Jubert Benedicto. —Jiselle Anne Caucian/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Filipino Times
DOH: Recent mpox cases in PH still from mild, self-limiting variant
All recently reported mpox cases in the country were caused by a milder strain of the virus, the Department of Health (DOH) clarified. 'There are LGUs reporting mpox, but I have to declare, all of them are mpox clade II,' said Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, referring to the same variant that caused confirmed cases in 2023 and 2024. He described this strain as 'very mild and self-limiting.' Clade II differs from the more infectious clade Ib, which was responsible for the mpox surge in parts of Africa and was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization last year. Given the current situation, Herbosa said there will be no new nationwide restrictions. 'We have an mpox task force. We are having surveillance,' he said, assuring the public that authorities are closely monitoring cases to prevent the entry of the more severe clade Ib. In recent weeks, mpox cases have been reported in parts of southern Philippines, particularly in Davao del Sur and Compostela in Davao de Oro, prompting local governments to enforce health measures such as mask-wearing and physical distancing. Davao City, however, denied online rumors of any community lockdown following an increase in confirmed mpox cases, which have now reached six. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease that spreads primarily through close physical contact, including sexual contact, and is not airborne. 'It's very important to isolate, and once recovered, hopefully, there will be no complications,' Herbosa said. The Philippines recorded 52 mpox cases in 2024, including one death, which the DOH said may have been due to complications from the disease.
