According to data from the health ministry, there has been a remarkable 57% increase in the number of newly reported influenza cases at designated medical facilities in Japan over the past week. This surge is rather unusual for a virus that typically prevails during the winter months.
Health experts attribute this prolonged spread of influenza infections to several contributing factors, including reduced immunity resulting from a decrease in new flu cases during the period when the government was implementing coronavirus containment measures.
The data released on Friday reveals that approximately 5,000 designated medical institutions across the country collectively reported 34,665 new influenza cases in the week starting from September 11. This is a substantial rise from the 22,111 cases reported in the previous week.
On average, each medical institution treated 7.03 flu patients, with seven of Japan’s 47 prefectures, including Tokyo, experiencing more than 10 cases per institution. This threshold is considered indicative of a potential influenza outbreak that warrants caution.
Interestingly, despite the typical conclusion of the flu season in Japan in spring, the weekly average of cases per medical facility has continued to exceed the usual levels, extending well into the summer months and even showing an increase since late August.
During the same week commencing September 11, designated medical institutions reported a total of 86,510 new coronavirus infections, with an average of 17.54 cases per institution. This represents a 13% decline compared to the previous week.
(Source: Kyodo | Japan Times)
