Indonesian MPs urge swift action as H3N2 subclade K spreads

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s House of Representatives has urged the Health Ministry to move quickly to contain the spread of a “super flu” linked to the H3N2 influenza variant, as concerns grow over rising acute respiratory infections and the effectiveness of existing vaccines.

Deputy Chair of the House’s Commission IX, Nihayatul Wafiroh, said lawmakers were pressing the ministry to reassess whether the current influenza vaccine provides sufficient protection against the newly dominant subclade K strain.

“If the existing vaccine does not provide adequate protection against subclade K, we urge the Health Ministry to conduct a reassessment, transparently publish the results, and prepare a plan to anticipate an alternative vaccine with higher efficacy,” Wafiroh said.

She called on the ministry to take a series of strategic steps, including re-evaluating vaccine performance against subclade K and openly sharing data from clinical trials and national influenza surveillance.

“Third, we urge the acceleration of the development or procurement of a more effective alternative vaccine if the current one shows reduced effectiveness against the dominant variant,” Wafiroh added.

She also stressed the need for closer coordination between parliament, the Health Ministry, epidemiologists and international health bodies to strengthen Indonesia’s response to seasonal influenza, which she said was becoming increasingly worrying.

Subclade K is a newly identified form of the Influenza A (H3N2) virus that has recently been linked to a rise in flu cases in several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Japan.

Related news: PDPI urges Indonesia to lead ASEAN flu pandemic prevention effort

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), seasonal influenza activity has increased worldwide in recent months, with a growing proportion of detected cases caused by influenza A(H3N2) viruses.

The WHO noted that while global influenza activity remains within expected seasonal levels, some regions have reported earlier-than-usual increases and higher activity than typically seen at this time of year.

The uptick coincides with the onset of winter in the northern hemisphere, when acute respiratory infections caused by influenza and other respiratory viruses usually rise.

Seasonal influenza viruses, including A(H3N2), continually evolve. Since August 2025, genetic sequencing data have shown a rapid increase in the detection of A(H3N2) J.2.4.1, also known as subclade K, across multiple countries.

The WHO has confirmed that subclade K carries several genetic changes compared with related A(H3N2) viruses. Current epidemiological data do not indicate increased disease severity, but the strain represents a notable evolution that warrants close monitoring.

Reporter: Tri Meilani Ameliya, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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