Jakarta. The Health Ministry has urged the public not to panic-buy the antiviral drug oseltamivir or take it without medical advice amid a seasonal increase in influenza cases, particularly in densely populated areas including Jakarta, West Java and Banten.

Health officials said most influenza cases are mild and resolve with supportive care, while antiviral treatment should be prioritized for patients with severe illness and people at higher risk of complications.

Acting Director General for Disease Control Andi Saguni said the recent increase in infections was consistent with seasonal influenza patterns seen across Southeast Asia and rejected social media claims that Indonesia was facing an outbreak of a new “super flu.”

“The term ‘super flu’ is not recognized in the official nomenclature of either the WHO or the Health Ministry,” Andi said.

He said the popular term had been used to describe influenza A(H3N2) subclade K, but surveillance data showed detections of that strain had actually declined sharply in Indonesia.

Only 22 cases of H3N2 subclade K have been detected in Indonesia this year, compared with 166 in 2025, according to ministry surveillance data. No new cases of the subclade have been detected since April.

The influenza strain currently dominating in Indonesia is A(H1N1)pdm09.

Through epidemiological week 38 of 2026, health authorities detected 1,527 influenza-positive specimens from 8,757 tests, equivalent to a positivity rate of about 17%. That was lower than the 24% recorded during the corresponding period last year.

The surveillance is conducted through a network of hospitals, community health centers, public health laboratories and health quarantine centers across the country.

Oseltamivir Is Not for Stockpiling
Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Lucia Rizka Andalucia said increased demand for oseltamivir had prompted the ministry to remind the public that the prescription antiviral should not be stockpiled or taken simply as a precaution without medical assessment.

“Oseltamivir is not a drug intended for mass use or something to be taken just in case without medical assessment,” Lucia said.

“It should only be administered based on examination and a doctor's judgment, particularly for patients with severe influenza who are hospitalized.”

The ministry said its oseltamivir supplies are being prioritized for patients with severe symptoms and those at high risk of developing complications.

“People don't need to buy as much medicine as possible,” Lucia said. “What they need to do is recognize the symptoms, understand the warning signs and seek medical attention at the appropriate time.”

International clinical guidance similarly recommends prompt antiviral treatment for people hospitalized with influenza, those with severe or progressive disease and patients at increased risk of complications.

Higher-risk groups include young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with certain chronic medical conditions or weakened immune systems.

For otherwise healthy patients with uncomplicated influenza, treatment is generally focused on relieving symptoms, although doctors may consider antiviral treatment in some cases, particularly when it can be started early in the illness.

Most Patients Recover without Antivirals
Pulmonologist Pompini Agustina Sitompul said most people with uncomplicated influenza can recover with adequate rest, hydration and supportive care without needing antiviral medication.

Treatment decisions should depend on the patient's condition and risk factors, she said, with greater attention required for people experiencing severe illness or belonging to vulnerable groups.

Pharmacologist Dewi Selvina Rosdiana also cautioned against unnecessary use of oseltamivir in children.

She cited research indicating that oseltamivir provides only a modest reduction in the duration of uncomplicated influenza in children while increasing the risk of adverse effects such as vomiting.

The Health Ministry also stressed that antibiotics should not be used to treat influenza unless a doctor determines that the patient also has a bacterial infection.

Influenza is caused by viruses, meaning antibiotics do not treat the underlying infection.
 

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