The Department of Health (DOH) recorded four confirmed cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, or ‘walking pneumonia’ in the country among reported influenza-like illness (ILI) as of November 25.

In a press briefing, the DOH said that the cases have been reported in the previous morbidity weeks 3, 30, 37, and 38, with one case each.

The ‘walking pneumonia,’ as described by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a common bacterial infection that normally affects younger children and can be treated with antibiotics.

Moreover, the DOH said that it is not a new pathogen and has been detected in other cases, explaining that it is not a notifiable disease globally.

With the confirmed cases, the health agency is encouraging the public to practice minimum health standards to prevent respiratory infections from spreading.