High level influenza continues to rage across Japan, with an estimated 1.67 million people becoming sick and seeing doctors in the week through last Sunday, double the level the week before, according to health ministry announced on Friday.
Analysis of latest data from 5,000 medical clinics showed that from December 23-29, 317,812 people have been diagnosed with flu.
That is more than three times the 104,612 cases recorded in the same period in 2023, and the most for any week since records began in 1999, the ministry said.
Cases of flu often rise in the winter in Japan and elsewhere, but some countries have seen large jumps in cases recently including in France and Britain.
All 47 prefectures reported an increase in the number of patients, with the average number of flu cases per clinic per week surging to 42.66, more than double the level recorded the previous week.
Infection levels were especially high in Kyushu, with Oita Prefecture hitting the highest level of 82.64, followed by Kagoshima Prefecture (65.57) and Saga Prefecture (61.62). Chiba, Fukuoka, Aichi and Yamanashi prefectures followed, at 60.03, 59.86, 56.79 and 55.63, respectively.
Authorities are calling for utmost vigilance as the nation heads into the New Year’s holidays, when many people plan getaways, family reunions and other gatherings.
Officials urge people to practice basic hygiene measures, such as frequent hand-washing and sanitizing, masking where it’s effective and proper cough etiquette. They also recommend maintaining a room temperature of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius and humidity levels of 50% to 60%.
