Are you feeling below the climate and fearing that you just might need the “tremendous flu?” An infectious illness professional informed Filipinos that there’s no have to panic.
“Tremendous flu” is formally recognized as subclade Okay, a mutated variant of influenza A that causes seasonal flu.
Subclade Okay was detected in at the very least 30 international locations in 2025, based on the World Well being Group (WHO). Among the many international locations that noticed a rise of subclade Okay instances are the US, Australia, United Kingdom, and Canada.
“They name it ‘tremendous flu’ due to the flexibility of this mutated H3N2 [subtype influenza A] to trigger extra an infection or influenza-like sickness in most international locations,” Dr. Rontgene Solante informed Rappler.
Within the Philippines, the Division of Well being (DOH) recorded 63 instances from January 1 to December 27 final 12 months. All instances have been reported to have recovered.
The DOH additionally famous that “present epidemiological information don’t recommend a rise in illness severity amongst subclade Okay instances,” based mostly on the WHO threat evaluation as of December 2025.
Signs, detection
How would you understand when you have the “tremendous flu?”
Solante defined that the “tremendous flu” has the identical signs as a daily flu, making it tough to inform if an individual has a daily one or subclade Okay.
An individual experiencing flu might endure from cough, sore throat, headache, fatigue, chills, and fever.
“That’s [why it’s] very arduous to inform whether or not the symptom is said to the non-mutated [or] the mutated H3N2, as a result of based mostly on the present information, there’s not a lot distinction within the scientific signs,” the infectious illness professional mentioned.
Solante harassed that extreme and chronic signs don’t mechanically imply the particular person has the “tremendous flu.”
“Even the seasonal flu that we have now, there are sufferers na minsan umaabot ng two weeks, nagre-relapse na dahil nga hindi naman nagpapahinga, nagtatrabaho pa rin. Minsan, ‘yung iba, complicating right into a bacterial an infection na. ‘Pag tumatagal ng two weeks ‘yan, hindi ibig sabihin ‘tremendous flu’ na ‘yan. So you could relaxation, you could take time on your an infection to essentially heal,” he mentioned.
(Even with the seasonal flu that we have now, there are sufferers who stay sick for 2 weeks, relapsing as a result of they don’t relaxation, they proceed to work. Typically, others expertise bacterial an infection. If the flu lasts for 2 weeks, that doesn’t essentially imply you’ve got the tremendous flu.)
The one solution to decide if an individual has the “tremendous flu” is thru a take a look at performed within the hospital, Solante mentioned, including that the physician has the discretion to resolve who needs to be examined.
“We often do it, testing them, particularly for individuals who are [part of the] susceptible inhabitants. Ibig sabihin, itong might mga edad na, might mga (This implies the aged and people with) comorbidities,” Solante mentioned. “So, that means if it is possible for you to to detect the presence of influenza in that specific affected person, there’s therapy that’s extremely efficient to stop problems.”
Therapy
Since “tremendous flu” and a daily flu have the identical signs, Solante mentioned the therapy can be related.
An individual battling the flu might take an anti-viral drug as it’s efficient for each seasonal and “tremendous flu.” Solante reminded the general public to not take antibiotics to deal with flu signs.
“You can be in peril of selling antibiotic resistance,” he mentioned.
To alleviate the illness, the infectious illness professional additionally suggested taking a relaxation and ingesting a lot of fluids.
In instances when signs are accompanied by issue in respiratory, Solante mentioned the particular person ought to seek the advice of a physician for correct prognosis.
Avoiding the flu
The DOH and Solante mentioned vaccination would assist in avoiding the flu, regardless whether it is common or the “tremendous flu.”
“Vaccination remains to be anticipated to guard in opposition to extreme sickness and stop hospitalization,” the DOH mentioned.
“Even whether it is mutated subclade Okay, the info remains to be telling us that the flu vaccine that we’re utilizing are nonetheless efficient,” mentioned Solante.
The physician additionally inspired folks, particularly high-risk people, to put on face masks notably in crowded locations as it’s “one of the vital essential limitations” in opposition to the an infection.
Washing fingers can be suggested as a result of “surfaces may also be the supply of contamination.”
Solante mentioned crucial prevention is enhancing the immune system.
“You might want to relaxation. You might want to have…correct meals, eating regimen, after which much less disturbing surroundings or occasion,” he mentioned.
Well being Secretary Ted Herbosa earlier mentioned the “tremendous flu” within the Philippines will not be alarming.
“I believe the warning I’ll give is for Filipinos that can journey to the temperate international locations, that can go to North America, to the UK. If you happen to’re going there, be educated that there’s a unfold of tremendous flu in that space. Possibly get the northern hemisphere vaccine, that’s my greatest recommendation for them,” Herbosa mentioned in a briefing. – Rappler.com
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