Health Japan facing unusually strong wave of influenza

This winter, a surge of flu cases affects people of all ages in Japan. Dr. Tadashi Ishida, a respiratory medicine specialist and head of the Influenza Committee at the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, has highlighted the widespread nature of the outbreak and emphasized the importance of taking preventative measures.

There are three main types of influenza: A, B and C. The infections currently making the rounds are at least 90% comprised of the AH1pdm09 substrain of H1N1, an A-type influenza virus that first appeared in 2009, causing a pandemic. While this variety is known as being highly infectious, Osaka University's Satoshi Kutsuna, a professor of epidemiology, offered several factors behind its spread.

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Several factors contributed to the severe flu outbreak this year: firstly, the flu season began unusually early, with infections surging in November 2024, coinciding with increased travel during the New Year holiday season.

Secondly, herd immunity against influenza has weakened. While effective against the virus, COVID-19 restrictions also limited the spread of other respiratory infections, including influenza, resulting in a significant portion of the population lacking sufficient immunity to the flu virus.

Kutsuna pointed out that COVID-19 infections are spreading as well and that supplies of flu-fighting medicines are short. He advises those with symptoms to get checked at medical institutions and for the elderly, pregnant and others at high risk to get immunized, while calling for measures such as wearing masks in crowded spaces. Ishida said that he feels the peak has passed. However, based on the fact that last year a wave of type-B infections followed in February after type-A had peaked, he said, "Don't neglect steps such as cough etiquette and hand washing."

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My wife caught the flu on the 31st--started coughing, fever on the 1st, tried some doc offices (which were jammed), got some medicine via an online consult, so meds on the 2nd.

It was persistent, overall lasting longer and a worse experience than covid. (And we both had shots, somehow I didn't get it.)