South Africa’s 2025 Flu Season Arrives Early

Why Clean Hands (and a Few Other Simple Habits) Matter More Than Ever

2025: The earliest start in 15 years

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) officially declared the start of the 2025 influenza season in week 13 (24 March – 30 March). That is four weeks earlier than the 2024 season and the earliest onset since 2010. Laboratory data from the NICD’s pneumonia-surveillance network show that influenza A(H3N2) is the dominant strain, accounting for roughly 68 % of confirmed cases so far. Health authorities warn that an early start often signals a longer, potentially more severe season.

Handwashing: a low-tech shield that cuts illness nearly in half

Decades of evidence from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that proper hand hygiene can prevent up to 40 – 50 % of avoidable respiratory infections, including flu. By physically removing or destroying virus-laden droplets picked up from people and surfaces, hand-washing disrupts one of the main transmission routes for influenza.

Mastering the 20-second wash

1. Wet hands with clean, running water.

2. Lather with soap—palms, backs, between fingers, under nails.

3. Scrub for at least 20 seconds (hum “Happy Birthday” twice).

4. Rinse under running water.

5. Dry thoroughly with a clean towel or air-dryer.

Soap’s surfactants break apart the virus envelope, and the mechanical action sends the fragments down the drain. Alcohol-based sanitiser (≥ 60 %) is a good fallback when water is unavailable, but nothing beats soap-and-water for visibly dirty hands.

When to wash

• Before and after preparing or eating food

• After using the toilet, changing nappies, or helping a child in the bathroom

• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose

• After caring for someone who is ill

• After touching animals, waste, or gardening soil

• Whenever you return home from public spaces

These moments mirror the NICD and WHO’s priority list for interrupting flu transmission in communities.

Beyond clean hands – layers of defence for the 2025 season

Layer	Why it matters	Practical tips & South-African context
Annual flu vaccination	Still the single most effective way to prevent severe illness and death—especially important with the early H3N2-dominant season	Public clinics and most pharmacies offer the trivalent or quadrivalent jab; aim to vaccinate March–April, but it’s never too late
Good respiratory etiquette	Stops droplets at the source	Cough or sneeze into a tissue/elbow; dispose of tissues immediately; wash hands afterwards
Stay home when sick	Reduces workplace/school outbreaks	NICD advises at least 24 h fever-free without medication before returning
Improve indoor air	Flu spreads in poorly ventilated spaces	Open windows, use fans, or HEPA filters where possible—especially taxis, classrooms, offices
Masks in crowded settings	Adds a barrier where distancing is hard	Consider on taxis, in clinics, or during large indoor gatherings—especially if you’re high-risk
Surface hygiene	Viruses can survive ≥ 24 h on non-porous surfaces	Disinfect “high-touch” points (door handles, cell-phones, POS machines) daily
Healthy immune basics	A robust immune system reduces severity	Balanced diet, ≥ 7 h sleep, regular exercise, adequate hydration, stop smoking

Who should be extra-vigilant?

• Adults ≥ 65 years

• Children < 2 years

• Pregnant women

• People living with HIV, TB, diabetes, heart, lung, or kidney disease, obesity, or weakened immunity

These groups account for the bulk of flu-related hospitalisations in South Africa; early vaccination and strict hygiene provide outsized benefit.

The bottom line

An unseasonably early influenza season means the virus already has a head-start. Fortunately, the tools to blunt its impact are straightforward: get vaccinated, wash hands correctly and often, practise good cough etiquette, improve ventilation, and stay home when ill.

Layering these habits protects not only you but the broader community—particularly our most vulnerable neighbours—as winter tightens its grip.

Sticking to these basics could keep thousands of South Africans out of clinics, save businesses lost productivity days, and, most importantly, prevent avoidable hospitalisations and deaths in 2025.

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