The Ministry of Health (Minsa) reported that the Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies (ICGES) confirmed three cases of Influenza A (H3N2), variant K, detected through laboratory analyses conducted between November and December. According to the official report, during epidemiological week 51, the ICGES sequenced 10 samples of Influenza A (H3N2), and three tested positive for this variant, which is already circulating in the country. The most concerning case is that of a 23-year-old woman, a resident of Bella Vista, who was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Santo Tomás Hospital on November 12, 2025. The patient started with symptoms a day prior, presenting with cough, runny nose, and difficulty breathing, which were complicated by a severe exacerbation of asthma and an upper respiratory tract infection. According to the report, she had no history of vaccination or travel. The other two cases, detected in December, correspond to adult women with mild respiratory conditions. One of them is a 40-year-old patient, treated at the Policentro de Parque Lefevre, with flu-like symptoms, without the need for hospitalization. The third case was also managed on an outpatient basis, with no serious complications. From the Minsa, they reiterate the call to the population: if you have a fever, cough, body aches, or difficulty breathing, don't ignore it. They recommend seeking timely medical attention, maintaining hygiene measures, wearing a mask if you have symptoms, and getting vaccinated against the flu, especially people with chronic diseases, the elderly, and children. The flu is not a joke. It may seem like a cold, but it can hit hard, especially when the body is not protected.
