Are you feeling below the climate and fearing that you simply may need the “tremendous flu?” An infectious illness knowledgeable informed Filipinos that there’s no must panic.
“Tremendous flu” is formally recognized as subclade Ok, a mutated variant of influenza A that causes seasonal flu.
Subclade Ok was detected in not less than 30 international locations in 2025, based on the World Well being Group (WHO). Among the many international locations that noticed a rise of subclade Ok instances are america, 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 yr. All instances had been reported to have recovered.
The DOH additionally famous that “present epidemiological information don’t counsel a rise in illness severity amongst subclade Ok instances,” primarily based on the WHO threat evaluation as of December 2025.
Signs, detection
How would you recognize you probably have the “tremendous flu?”
Solante defined that the “tremendous flu” has the identical signs as a daily flu, making it troublesome to inform if an individual has a daily one or subclade Ok.
An individual experiencing flu might undergo from cough, sore throat, headache, fatigue, chills, and fever.
“That’s [why it’s] very exhausting to inform whether or not the symptom is said to the non-mutated [or] the mutated H3N2, as a result of primarily based on the present information, there’s not a lot distinction within the medical signs,” the infectious illness knowledgeable stated.
Solante burdened that extreme and chronic signs don’t mechanically imply the particular person has the “tremendous flu.”
“Even the seasonal flu that we’ve, 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 it’s worthwhile to relaxation, it’s worthwhile to take time in your an infection to essentially heal,” he stated.
(Even with the seasonal flu that we’ve, 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 may have the tremendous flu.)
The one technique to decide if an individual has the “tremendous flu” is thru a take a look at carried out within the hospital, Solante stated, including that the physician has the discretion to determine who needs to be examined.
“We often do it, testing them, particularly for many 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 stated. “So, which means if it is possible for you to to detect the presence of influenza in that exact affected person, there’s remedy that’s extremely efficient to stop issues.”
Therapy
Since “tremendous flu” and a daily flu have the identical signs, Solante stated the remedy 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 stated.
To alleviate the illness, the infectious illness knowledgeable additionally suggested taking a relaxation and ingesting a number of fluids.
In instances when signs are accompanied by problem in respiratory, Solante stated the particular person ought to seek the advice of a physician for correct analysis.
Avoiding the flu
The DOH and Solante stated vaccination would assist in avoiding the flu, regardless whether it is common or the “tremendous flu.”
“Vaccination continues to be anticipated to guard in opposition to extreme sickness and forestall hospitalization,” the DOH stated.
“Even whether it is mutated subclade Ok, the information continues to be telling us that the flu vaccine that we’re utilizing are nonetheless efficient,” stated Solante.
The physician additionally inspired individuals, particularly high-risk people, to put on face masks significantly in crowded locations as it’s “probably the most vital boundaries” in opposition to the an infection.
Washing fingers can be suggested as a result of “surfaces can be the supply of contamination.”
Solante stated crucial prevention is enhancing the immune system.
“You must relaxation. You must have…correct meals, food regimen, after which much less irritating atmosphere or occasion,” he stated.
Well being Secretary Ted Herbosa earlier stated the “tremendous flu” within the Philippines is just not 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. In the event you’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 finest recommendation for them,” Herbosa stated in a briefing. – Rappler.com
