Pakistan’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) has confirmed the circulation of the H3N2 influenza A strain, dubbed the “super flu” and issued a national advisory warning of a significant winter surge.
Surveillance data from epidemiological weeks 44 to 49 recorded over 340,000 suspected influenza-like illness (ILI) cases nationwide, with 12 percent of tested samples confirming the presence of the H3N2 virus, driven by a new, rapidly spreading genetic drift variant known as Sub-clade K.
#Influenza cases are rising sharply in #Pakistan, with Lahore seeing a surge in patients.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with blood pressure are most affected.
Common symptoms include dry cough, severe cold, headache, and body aches. #SamaaTV pic.twitter.com/XdOYpHLj8u
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) December 13, 2025
Health officials clarified that while this mutated strain exhibits a higher rate of transmission, its symptoms, which include sudden high fever, extreme fatigue, and severe body aches, are similar to other seasonal flu types, and there is currently no evidence of greater overall severity.
However, the NIH stressed that H3N2 poses a heightened risk of complications for vulnerable populations, including older adults, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases.
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Health authorities have been directed to strengthen infection-control measures and preparedness for increased patient loads, while emphasizing that seasonal influenza vaccination remains the most effective preventive tool against severe illness and hospitalization.
