January 2, 2026 | 05:04 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Ministry of Health has recorded 62 cases of influenza A(H3N2) subclade K across eight provinces as of the end of December 2025, with most cases reported in East Java, South Kalimantan, and West Java.
The rise in infections has largely affected women and children, according to health officials.
The Ministry’s Director of Infectious Diseases, Prima Yosephine, said the government is stepping up monitoring and preparedness measures.
“We are strengthening surveillance, reporting, and readiness to respond to the evolving influenza situation,” she said in a written statement on Friday, January 2, 2026.
Prima noted that of 843 influenza-positive specimens examined nationwide, 348 underwent whole genome sequencing (WGS). All identified variants are already known and are currently circulating globally under the World Health Organization’s influenza surveillance system.
The ministry stressed that transmission of influenza A(H3N2) subclade K in Indonesia remains under control as of early January 2026, with no indication of increased severity compared with other influenza clades or subclades.
Global and Regional Developments
Globally, a surge in influenza A(H3) cases has been observed in the United States since week 40 of last year, coinciding with the start of the winter season. Symptoms are similar to those of seasonal influenza, including fever, cough, runny nose, headache, and sore throat.
Subclade K was first identified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in August 2025 and has since been detected in more than 80 countries.
In Asia, cases of subclade K have been reported in China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand since July 2025. Although influenza A(H3) has become the dominant strain in the region, Prima said case numbers in these countries have declined over the past two months.
Indonesia has seen a similar downward trend. Based on WGS analysis completed on December 25, 2025, subclade K has been detected since August 2025 through the country’s sentinel surveillance system for influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection (ILI-SARI) at various health facilities.
Public Advice for Prevention
As a preventive measure, Prima urged the public to maintain clean and healthy living practices, support their immune systems, and receive annual influenza vaccinations, especially vulnerable groups such as older adults, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions.
Influenza vaccines, she said, remain effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
She also advised people experiencing flu-like symptoms to stay at home, wear masks, practice proper cough etiquette, and seek medical care if symptoms worsen or persist for more than three days.
Read: H3N2 'Super Flu' Under Control in Indonesia, Says Health Ministry
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