Super Flu – By Kisean Joseph
Super Flu Spreading Across
A local physician is urging residents to take the current wave of illness seriously but without panic, as a highly infectious influenza strain continues to spread across Antigua and Barbuda, leaving families, schools, and workplaces struggling to cope.
Dr Courtney Lewis, Vice President of the Antigua and Barbuda Medical Association, appeared on the Voice of the People program to clarify that what most residents are experiencing is not a resurgence of COVID-19, but an aggressive strain of influenza known as the super flu, identified as subtype H3N2.
“It’s called super flu simply because of how infectious it seems to be. No region, no country, no population seems to be safe from it. It seems to be defeating a lot of the established defence mechanisms — flu shots, regular immunity bolstered by vitamins and exercise,” Dr Lewis said.
He attributed part of the surge to the annual influx of winter tourists arriving from colder climates with suppressed immune systems, unknowingly carrying and transmitting viruses to local populations.
Dr Lewis stressed the importance of distinguishing between a common cold and the flu. A cold typically remains confined to the respiratory tract with mild symptoms. The flu, by contrast, strikes the entire body — and strikes fast.
“With the flu, it’s overnight,” he said. “Today I don’t feel so bad, I’m at work. And then in the morning, I feel like I got hit by a truck — I can’t move, everything hurts. That is usually the hallmark of a flu.”
Severe fatigue, brain fog, and dizziness following recovery are all normal responses, he added, as the body redirects energy toward fighting the infection.
Dr Lewis issued a firm caution against one of the most common responses he sees — residents demanding antibiotics at the first sign of illness. Antibiotics fight bacteria, not viruses, and administering them unnecessarily contributes to antimicrobial resistance — making germs progressively harder to treat over time.
He urged residents to complete every antibiotic course prescribed in its entirety and to resist pressuring doctors for prescriptions when suffering from a viral illness.
Dr Lewis said for treatment, most viral illness management is supportive — keeping the patient comfortable while the immune system does its work. Hydration, he stressed, is the single most important factor in avoiding serious complications.
“If you stay hydrated while having a cold or flu, you never end up in an ER,” he said. “Viruses are very hydrophobic — they do not like water. The more water in your system, the faster you tend to get better.”
He praised coconut water as a locally available hydration resource, noting its electrolyte composition closely mirrors the body’s internal environment — though he cautioned diabetic patients to monitor their intake given its natural sugar content.
Dr Lewis further urged residents to eat well, get adequate sleep, reduce stress, wash their hands frequently, and wear a mask in environments where illness is circulating. Most importantly, he issued a call to stay home when sick.
“Your workplace will understand that you’re a bigger threat in the workplace, making everyone sick, than if you just take time to recover,” he said.
He also recommended residents seek an up-to-date flu shot formulated for currently circulating strains, noting that last season’s vaccine offers significantly reduced protection against H3N2.
Residents experiencing worsening symptoms, difficulty breathing, or prolonged illness should seek medical attention promptly.