The Ministry of Health together with the National Institute of Health reported that they have already detected in Colombia a case of Influenza A H3N2 of the K variant, it is an imported case with a history of international travel to the United States.
He case corresponds to a person who presented mild respiratory symptomssuch as fever and cough, who reported a recent cruise trip with departure from Miami. However, the authorities reported that so far, the severity of the cases has not been recorded, nor the hospitalizations or deaths associated with this variant of the virus in the country.
Recommendations to avoid infections
Table of Contents
- Recommendations to avoid infections
- Vaccination is an effective measure to protect against this virus
- H3N2 flu: these are the outbreaks of the virus in the world and the measures taken by the WHO
- What are the hotspots of H3N2 flu in the world?
- What measures are the WHO and the authorities taking against H3N2?
The Ministry of Health calls on citizens to maintain self-care measures, including:
- frequent hand washing, especially when you get home, before eating and after coughing or sneezing.
- Adequate ventilation of closed spaces such as schools, public transportation, health institutions and care centers.
- Use of face masks in people with respiratory symptomsespecially when they are in contact with vulnerable populations, such as children, older adults or immunocompromised people.
- Remain in isolation for a minimum of 3 days when respiratory symptoms occur and avoid sending sick children to kindergartens or schools.
Vaccination is an effective measure to protect against this virus
The authorities recommend the application of the influenza vaccine available in Colombian territory since it reduces hospitalizations and deaths from this disease. They indicated vaccination in the following groups:
- Child population of 6 to 23 months of age.
- Personas over 60 years old.
- Pregnant women from week 14 of pregnancy
- Population with diagnoses of risk of 24 months and adults.
- Human talent in health
- People with chronic diseases such as asthma, COPD, cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, liver, diabetes, obesity, cancerHIV or other conditions that compromise the immune system
- Relatives and cohabitants of those under 18 years of age with cancer
H3N2 flu: these are the outbreaks of the virus in the world and the measures taken by the WHO
As the world prepares to welcome 2026, a new outbreak ofseasonal influenza A, better known as H3N2 fluthreatens to bring back measures such as the use of masks in some countries.
According to the World Health Organization, WHO, the global intensification of contagion is directly related to the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere.
It should be remembered that this virus produces symptoms such as high fever, intense headache, muscle, joint and throat pain, chills, dry cough and feeling tiredwith the possibility of gastrointestinal conditions, especially in children.
What are the hotspots of H3N2 flu in the world?
As mentioned above, the H3N2 flu outbreak is global, however, the greatest concern of health organizations is related to the detection of a genetically evolved varianta, known as “subclass K”.
Also read: Alert in Europe for H3N2 Flu: Could it reach Colombia? Symptoms and recommendations
This variation has shown rapid emergence and spread, with recent peaks, in places like Australia and New Zealand from August 2025. Similarly, almost 90% of recent detections are recorded in the Western Pacific region, according to the WHO.
It is also recorded predominance of the virus in the United States and Canada, as well as in Africaareas of the Eastern Mediterranean and in Europe. According to the institution, the outbreak of the virus has been associated with an increase in its circulation in Brazil and Chile, among other South American countries.
The international organization highlights that the main actions against this outbreak consist of reinforce the response and preparation of public health entities.
In this sense, the WHO is dedicated to global surveillance of the virus and issues recommendations for the composition of an eventual vaccine for each hemisphere. Among other measures, it has been recommended isolation of patients and care with the spread of the virus.
Likewise, annual vaccination is promoted in risk groups, including health personnel, in addition to the strengthening of hygienic measures such as hand washing and self-isolation if symptoms occur.
