Tokyo: On January 11, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported that Japan saw its highest number of influenza cases since record-keeping began in 1999. In the last week of December, there were 317,812 reported flu patients across approximately 5,000 medical institutions, averaging 64.39 cases per facility, significantly exceeding the warning threshold of 30.
This figure marked an increase from the previous week’s average of 42.66 and represented the 10th consecutive week of rising cases. All 47 prefectures in Japan reported increases, with 43 surpassing the warning level. A ministry official suggested that the surge could be linked to increased movement during the holiday season.
Oita Prefecture in southwestern Japan reported the highest average, with 104.84 cases per clinic, followed by other prefectures in the Kyushu region. Major cities were also affected, with Osaka averaging 67.53 cases and Tokyo 56.52.
As cases continue to rise, officials are urging the public to wear masks and practice good hand hygiene to curb the spread of the virus. Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily impacts the respiratory system, leading to symptoms such as high fever, body aches, and cough. While most children recover within a week, some may experience severe illness requiring hospitalization. The flu can also result in complications like pneumonia or even death.
Every flu season, approximately 20 to 40 million people in the U.S. contract the virus. Although flu and cold symptoms can be similar, cold symptoms are generally milder, while flu symptoms can be severe and lead to serious complications. Different viruses cause these two illnesses.