Islamabad: The objective of this advisory is to alert and facilitate the health authorities and other stakeholders for ensuring timely preventive and control measures encompassing preparedness to deal with increased workload expected in the outpatient and in-patient departments during next few months. According to advisory, Influenza is an acute viral respiratory illness caused by influenza A and B viruses, leading to annual epidemics. Influenza A is associated with higher transmissibility and severe disease among older adults, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic conditions. During the 2025–2026 season, a new genetic subclade of Influenza A(H3N2), Subclade K, has emerged globally. Recently, there has been a rapid rise in detection of H3N2 cases since August, 2025 among different WHO regions. The South East Asia region has shown increased positivity of Influenza cases with predominance of H3N2 (66% of all Influenza A cases) since May 2025 till end of November. Similarly, Australia and New Zealand have also reported increased Influenza cases with significant proportion of H3N2 subclade. Pakistan is also observing rising influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases. News Desk
