Hong Kong flu in Kazakhstan: Health Minister forecasts continued rise in cases

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan’s Healtcareh Minister Akmarl Alnazarova has commented on the surge of Hong Kong flu cases across the country, saying infections are likely to keep rising until mid-December.

Speaking to reporters in the Senate, Alnazarova reminded that the A (H3N2) strain has been circulating in Kazakhstan since 2001. Like other viral infections, it hits elderly people and children harder.

“Warm weather will hold through this week and next. We expect viral infections to continue increasing until mid-December. People should avoid crowded places, wash their hands, ventilate indoor spaces and preferably wear masks,” she said.

She stressed that ordinary citizens are not required to wear medical masks, but for healthcare workers the rule remains mandatory.

Will cold weather stop the spread?

Reporters asked if the arrival of frost will help bring infection levels down.

“Yes, absolutely. But breaking flu transmission requires at least 2–3 weeks of cold weather,” Alnazarova noted.

According to her, prolonged low temperatures reduce both viral circulation and the amount of time people spend outside or in public areas.

“If the cold sets in, the situation will stabilize. But based on our forecast, the increase may continue until mid-December,” she added.

This year’s flu season began 3–4 weeks earlier than last year. The minister explained that unusually warm autumn weather triggered early transmission.

She called local sanitary restrictions “proactive measures” aimed at preventing further spread.

“Yesterday at the government meeting, regional akims were reminded that the decree of the Chief Sanitary Doctor allows territorial departments to introduce similar measures locally. Today, 11 regions have implemented certain restrictions in schools and shifted around 220 classes to remote learning, mostly grades 1–5,” she said.

Current situation: ARVI and Hong Kong flu

Since the start of the epidemiological season on 1 September 2025, Kazakhstan has registered:

• 1,461,819 ARVI cases,
• 963,847 of them children under 14 (almost 66%),
• 590 confirmed flu cases, of which 587 are type A(H3N2), the Hong Kong strain,
  several isolated cases of A(H1N1).

Hong Kong flu: why this season feels more severe and when to take antivirals

Alnazarova highlighted that simple preventive steps significantly lower the risk of infection: avoiding crowded places, ventilating rooms regularly, using antiseptics, and keeping children with symptoms at home.

On 19 November, Astana’s Chief Sanitary Doctor Aigul Shagaltayeva signed a decree introducing reinforced sanitary measures in the capital amid rising cases of flu and ARVI.

Hong Kong flu in Almaty: Health Authorities respond to questions about possible restrictions