Influenza cases in Japan averaged 14.90 per medical institution last week, surpassing the alert threshold of 10. The health ministry announced on Friday that infections are rising across all 47 prefectures, based on data from about 3,000 monitored institutions. This surge signals a potential large-scale outbreak within four weeks.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on Friday that the average number of new influenza cases per regularly monitored medical institution reached 14.90 in the week through Sunday, exceeding the alert level of 10. This figure, drawn from reports by about 3,000 institutions nationwide, jumped from 6.29 the previous week, marking a 2.37-fold increase. A total of 57,424 cases were reported across Japan, with 25 of the 47 prefectures surpassing the 10-case threshold. The highest rates were in Miyagi at 28.58, followed by Kanagawa at 28.47, Saitama at 27.91, Chiba at 25.04, Hokkaido at 24.99, Okinawa at 23.80, and Tokyo at 23.69. The warning level stands at 30 cases per institution.
Japan's flu season began at the end of September, the second-earliest onset in the past two decades, with the outbreak officially declared around October 3. The impact on education has been significant, with between 2,161 and 2,307 kindergartens, nursery schools, and elementary to high schools reporting partial or full closures due to outbreaks (figures vary by report).
Reiko Saito, a professor of public health at Niigata University, described the circulating influenza A strain as "highly contagious and affects people across a wide range of ages." She advised, "If you feel even slightly unwell, you should stay home from school or work and see a doctor. Elderly people and others who are prone to severe illness should consider getting vaccinated." Health authorities urge measures like wearing masks, practicing proper cough etiquette, and handwashing to curb the spread.