IPB Expert Says 'Superflu' Is Not a New Disease

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Faculty member of the Medical Faculty at Indonesia's IPB University, Desdiani, emphasized that the term superflu is not the name of a new disease, but a popular term to describe the increase in influenza cases caused by specific strains of the influenza virus.

According to her, the term superflu refers to the influenza virus A subtype H3N2, especially the K subclade, which spreads more rapidly and causes a significant spike in seasonal flu cases. Nearly 90 percent of the latest flu cases were reported to be caused by this strain.

However, Desdiani stated that the term is not intended as a new scientific classification, but to highlight the changing behavior of viruses that continue to evolve.

"The influenza virus continues to mutate to evade the human immune system. Therefore, the flu vaccine needs to be periodically updated. The influenza A/H3N2 subtype has been around since 1968 and has undergone more than a dozen changes," she said in a written statement on Monday, January 12, 2025.

Desdiani said that despite the early start of this year's flu season, the spread and severity of the disease are still within normal limits for the influenza season. The main concern, according to her, is the burden on the healthcare system in various regions, which depends heavily on virus activity and the availability of healthcare facilities and personnel.

She added that global influenza monitoring is carried out through the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), a network coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and involving more than 160 institutions in 131 countries. This system functions to monitor influenza viruses throughout the year and serves as an early warning for the emergence of new viruses with pandemic potential.

"In tropical countries, influenza activity is relatively low from June to August 2025. Cases start to increase in September and continue to rise until November 2025, with influenza A/H3N2 dominance. In Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, the peak of cases occurred in August 2025, with subclade K as the dominant strain," she said.

Based on genetic sequence data, subclade K has experienced genetic drift, which is a genetic change that can affect virus characteristics. However, Desdiani mentioned that the number of flu cases has reached a plateau and has been steadily declining since mid-December 2025.

"The weekly flu test positivity rate has also dropped to around 4 percent, although this year's flu season arrived one month earlier with three times the number of cases compared to the same period in 2024," she said.

For prevention, she emphasizes the importance of influenza vaccination. The flu vaccine has been proven to reduce the risk of healthcare facility visits or hospitalizations due to flu by 70-75 percent in children and about 30-40 percent in adults.

In addition to vaccination, the public is also encouraged to practice good hygiene, use masks when ill, rest at home, and maintain proper cough etiquette and hand hygiene. "Most flu cases do resolve on their own, but serious complications can occur, especially in young children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic diseases, and healthcare workers," she said.

Desdiani added that flu cases are more commonly found in the child, adolescent, and elderly age groups. Children and adolescents are vulnerable due to high contact in school environments, while the elderly are at risk of serious illness due to underlying conditions and decreased immune function. "Therefore, vigilance and prevention efforts still need to be intensified even though superflu is not a new disease," she said.

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