The estimated number of seasonal flu patients nationwide in Japan in the week ending January 19 was 386,000, and the total number of patients this season from September 2, 2024 is estimated to be about 9,523,000.
Japan is in the midst of a seasonal flu epidemic, when the number of patients with seasonal flu outnumbers other diseases.
Although the number of seasonal flu patients in the last week of January 2025 has shown a downward trend, Japanese health officials still warn that the flu epidemic remains at an alarming level.
After the New Year holiday, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced the influenza situation from January 13 to 19.
Based on the data, the estimated number of patients nationwide in the week ending January 19 was about 386,000, and the total number of patients this season since September 2, 2024 is estimated to be about 9,523,000.
The national average of reports per designated health facility is 18.38, a significant decrease from 35.02 last week, but still below the standard value to end the warning level.
In a normal year, flu cases tend to peak from January to February.
"The number of patients has decreased sharply from the historical peak, but instead of the 'Type A' that is prevalent now, there is a possibility that 'Type B' will increase in the future. We also need to be vigilant against other infectious diseases, including Covid-19," said Ishida Nao, chairman of the Influenza Committee of the Japan Society of Infectious Diseases and deputy director of Kurashiki Central Hospital, calling for thorough implementation of basic infection prevention measures such as hand washing and wearing masks.
As the flu epidemic continues, emergency hospitals in Tokyo are receiving many requests to accept emergency patients from afar, and infections occurring in hospitals are making it difficult for them to accept patients.
The situation has improved as the number of patients has decreased, but many patients are being admitted for other illnesses besides infectious diseases. Doctors at the hospital continue to call for infection control measures.
At Minamitama Hospital in Hachioji, Tokyo, the number of patients with fevers believed to be caused by influenza has increased sharply since the end of the year, and until around the middle of this month, the hospital received many requests to accept emergency patients from the city center as well as from Yamanashi and Kanagawa prefectures.
Although the number of requests has decreased, the shortage of hospital beds continues due to the temporary need for isolation rooms and the increase in the number of patients transported for reasons other than infectious diseases, such as stroke and myocardial infarction, which are common in winter.
In late 2024, Japanese health officials announced that the number of seasonal flu cases at the end of the year was at its highest level in 10 years.
The number of influenza patients reported by medical facilities nationwide as of December 22, 2024 was 42.66 people per medical facility, the highest number at this time in the past 10 years.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/nhat-ban-so-benh-nhan-cum-mua-giam-nhung-dich-cum-van-o-muc-bao-dong-post858820.html
![[Photo] President Luong Cuong presides over the Spring Incense Offering Ceremony at Thang Long Imperial Citadel](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/2/6/003a318e50c240e5a2e52840edbf33ae)
Comment (0)