Islamabad : National Institute of Health (NIH) MoNHSR&C issued an advisory for Prevention and control of Seasonal Influenza (H3N2).
The objective of this advisory is to alert and facilitate the health authorities and other stakeholders for ensuring timely preventive and control measures encompassing preparedness to deal with increased workload expected in the outpatient and in-patient departments during next few months.
According to advisory, Influenza is an acute viral respiratory illness caused by influenza A and B viruses, leading to annual epidemics. Influenza A is associated with higher transmissibility and severe disease among older adults, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic conditions.
During the 2025–2026 season, a new genetic subclade of Influenza A(H3N2), Subclade K, has emerged globally. Recently, there has been a rapid rise in detection of H3N2 cases since August, 2025 among different WHO regions. The South East Asia region has shown increased positivity of Influenza cases with predominance of H3N2 (66% of all Influenza A cases) since May 2025 till end of November. Similarly, Australia and New Zealand have also reported increased Influenza cases with significant proportion of H3N2 subclade.
Pakistan is also observing rising influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases. The country has reported a total of 340,856 suspected ILI cases from epidemiological week 44 to 49 from all provinces and regions through Integrated Disease Surveillance & Response Systems with 12% positivity of H3N2 cases among tested samples.
Keeping in view the recent upsurge of Influenza across various regions and remarkable increase of H3N2 cases, limited access to healthcare services, unsatisfied infection prevention & control practices in different settings and limited health awareness in the community, the flu season in Pakistan can be severe. Therefore, it’s essential for individuals, especially those in high-risk groups, to take preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, practicing good hygiene, and seeking medical attention promptly if symptoms persist.
The objective of this advisory is to alert and facilitate the health authorities and other stakeholders for ensuring timely preventive and control measures encompassing preparedness to deal with increased workload expected in the outpatient and in-patient departments during next few months.
According to the advisory seasonal influenza viruses may present with mild symptoms but may progress to severe illness, particularly in the high-risk individuals i.e. patients with chronic diseases (such as asthma, diabetes, cardiac and lungs diseases etc.) pregnant women, elderly people, children under 5 years are at higher risk of developing severe or complicated disease. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection and severe outcomes caused by influenza viruses particularly in high-risk groups. Influenza (seasonal flu) can spread from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing or can contaminated hands or other surfaces.
Advisory emphasized if someone is sick or has been in close-contact with persons having flu-like illness, following preventive measures are recommended for limiting the Influenza transmission:
•Frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water and use of hand sanitizer when away from hand washing facility
•Covering mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing
•Sick patients to take rest, and avoid crowds
•Taking social distancing measures.
It is to highlight that Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) at CDC-NIH is regularly monitoring the flu situation.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
