The National Institute of Health (NIH) on Monday issued an advisory warning of a “super flu” emerging internationally and in Pakistan, as it urged provincial health authorities to adopt preventative measures.
In a statement, the NIH Pakistan is seeing an uptick in influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection cases, with surveillance data showing 340,856 suspected influenza-like cases reported nationwide from epidemiological weeks 44 to 49, and 12% of tested samples confirmed positive for H3N2. It said it was issuing the advisory to alert provincial health departments and other stakeholders to ensure timely control steps and to prepare for an expected increase in outpatient and inpatient load in the coming months.
Influenza is an acute viral respiratory illness caused by Influenza A and B viruses and is responsible for annual epidemics worldwide. The NIH said Influenza A is linked to higher transmissibility and more severe disease, particularly among older adults, young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and cardiac or lung diseases.
The health body noted several countries have witnessed a rapid increase in H3N2 cases since August 2025, adding influenza positivity has increased significantly in Southeast Asia, with H3N2 accounting for 66% of all Influenza A cases reported between May and the end of November 2025.
It said similar trends are present in Australia and New Zealand, where a substantial proportion of influenza cases belong to the H3N2 subclade.
In view of the recent surge in influenza cases, limited access to healthcare services in some areas, gaps in infection prevention and control practices, and low public awareness, the NIH has warned that the ongoing flu season in Pakistan could prove severe. It warned that seasonal influenza might initially present with mild symptoms but could progress to severe or complicated illness, stressing that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection and reduce severe outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations.
The NIH has noted influenza spreads mainly through coughing and sneezing and via contaminated hands and surfaces. It has advised frequent handwashing with soap and water or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, avoiding crowded places when ill, taking adequate rest, and observing social distancing. It said the Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the CDC-NIH is continuously monitoring the influenza situation and coordinating response efforts to mitigate the impact of seasonal influenza across the country.