Super Flu: Between Vigilance and Panic
Based on symptoms alone, it is impossible to confirm whether an individual is infected with subclable K or other influenza groups.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The ‘super flu’ has recently become a focus of public attention. News regarding Influenza A(H3N2) subclade K has raised questions as to whether we are facing a new and more dangerous virus.
Influenza A(H3N2) is not a new virus. It is one of the causes of seasonal influenza that has been circulating in humans for decades. The World Health Organisation (WHO) explains that subclade K is a part of the seasonal influenza A(H3N2) virus that has undergone genetic changes and subsequently spread across various regions of the world.
‘Super flu’ is a popular term used to describe the Influenza A(H3N2) subclade K infection.
Symptoms resemble other respiratory tract infections, such as fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue. In some people, symptoms may last longer and feel more severe, particularly in vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with underlying medical conditions.
Based on symptoms alone, we cannot be certain whether someone is infected with subclade K or other influenza groups. The existence of subclade K does not automatically mean that the virus is more transmissible, dangerous, or causes more severe disease.
Amidst the flood of information regarding this virus, what is needed is not panic, but rather the understanding that a definitive diagnosis still requires proper testing. If there is an increase in influenza-like illness (ILI) cases, the healthcare system must be able to detect such changes as early as possible.
Laboratory testing can help confirm the type of circulating virus, while molecular testing and whole genome sequencing (WGS) provide a deeper insight into the genetic characteristics of the virus. This information is vital to understand whether the changes occurring are merely common viral variations or require further attention. Therefore, amidst concerns regarding the ‘super flu’, we must adhere to one important principle: surveillance before speculation.
According to the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO WPRO), as of 10 September 2026, several Southeast Asian countries have experienced an increase in influenza activity. In Singapore, the proportion of influenza-positive specimens in recent weeks has fluctuated between 24 per cent and 37 per cent, accompanied by high numbers of positive COVID-19 cases. In Brunei Darussalam, the influenza positivity rate reached 28 per cent, up from a previous 12 per cent. Malaysia sits within the 19-20 per cent range, while Vietnam has increased from 7 per cent to 20 per cent.
Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health, no alarming surge in influenza cases has been observed in Indonesia up to September 2026 compared to the same period in the previous year.
Influenza A(H3N2) subclade K has been detected in Indonesia since August 2025. Until the end of December 2025, 62 cases of subclade K were recorded based on WGS testing. Out of 843 positive influenza specimens, 348 specimens underwent WGS testing. All detected viruses were known variants also found in global circulation.
However, there is a recent development from the Indonesian Ministry of Health stating that as of the third week of September 2026, cases have been detected in 13 provinces, with the highest numbers in East Java and South Kalimantan.
A clever virus.