Health Widespread flu outbreaks reported throughout Japan

Japan is experiencing a significant flu surge, with an estimated 1.67 million people seeking medical attention in a week, double the previous week's figure. This surge coincides with the upcoming New Year's holidays, a period of increased social interaction. All 47 prefectures reported a rise in cases, exceeding the warning threshold in 44, prompting authorities to urge heightened vigilance as the nation prepares for holiday travel and gatherings.

Infection levels were exceptionally 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. Flu viruses are spreading across generations, but particularly quickly among children and teens, with nearly 800,000 of the new patients being those under 20. Oita officials said the number of cases in the prefecture is the highest since 1999 when it started taking such statistics. Masaki Inoue, executive director of the Oita Medical Association, a group of private practitioners in the prefecture, attributed the explosive growth in infections to weakened immunity against flu viruses among people.

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Many medical facilities will be closed during the New Year's holiday period. However, local medical associations have arranged for doctors in private practice to provide on-call services. Schedules for these on-call doctors are available on municipal governments' websites. Authorities recommend practising good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, sanitizing, and wearing masks when appropriate to prevent the spread of illness.

Maintaining a comfortable indoor environment with a temperature between 20-25 degrees Celsius and humidity levels between 50-60% is also crucial. Individuals at higher risk, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, are encouraged to vaccinate against the flu. Vaccination has been shown to reduce the severity of symptoms. While vaccination costs vary, many municipalities offer subsidies to make it more affordable.

I've had an eye out, but haven't seen any reporting about the efficacy of this year's flu shot (got mine two months ago). Has anyone read anything on that?

Vaccine production starts 6-9 months before it gets to doctors/clinics and people, and the decision about which strain(s) to target happens even earlier. The challenge is to predict of what flu strain(s) will be prevalent 9+ months later. Sometimes that prediction is correct, sometimes not.

[Explosion of Influenza Infections] Highly Contagious 'PDM09 Strain' – No Peak in Sight, and Further Spread Possible? What Are the "Easily Overlooked" Points in Prevention? [Explained by a Doctor]

Influenza infections are rapidly spreading nationwide, with the number of patients in Osaka Prefecture doubling compared to the previous week. The strain currently circulating is "Influenza A pdm09 type," which accounts for 90% of the influenza cases detected nationwide. What are the characteristic symptoms of the pdm09 type? To understand more, we asked Dr. Takuro Mizuno, the director of Mizuno Clinic, about the key points of infection prevention.
The number of patients has doubled compared to the previous week across the country... Will it keep increasing!? Influenza of the 'pdm09 type.'

The infection situation across the country is being displayed with warning levels marked by colors. In the first week of December, many areas across the nation were marked in yellow, indicating a "watch" level, while by the second week, more areas turned pink, representing a "warning" level. In the Kansai region as well, more areas turned pink, indicating a "warning level" in the second week of December. Regarding the number of patients in Kansai, the data released by each prefecture on December 26 is as follows:

▼ Number of patients per designated medical institution (December 16–22)(Previous week) (Latest)Osaka: 21.64 → 45.75 (about 2.1 times)Hyogo: 19.38 → 46.65 (about 2.4 times)Kyoto: 15.34 → 35.46 (about 2.3 times)

All of these numbers have more than doubled compared to the previous week. We asked Dr. Takuro Mizuno, the director of Mizuno Clinic, about the current situation.

―― At our clinic, in the early days of December, we had about four to five patients a day, but from last week to this week, it's increased to about 45 to 50 patients a day. It feels like it's really exploded.

Q: Will the number of cases continue to rise?

―― We still haven't seen the peak, so I think it will likely keep increasing.

About 90% of the flu cases this season are of the "Influenza A pdm09 type" (detected nationwide between November 11 and December 15). This strain was the one that caused the pandemic in 2009, and its name comes from "09" for the year 2009 and "pdm" for pandemic. At the time, it was called the "H1N1 Influenza A (new strain)."

The name was changed because, while it was considered a "new strain" at the time, it became recognized as a seasonal influenza strain due to recurring outbreaks.

The "pdm09 type" is highly contagious—when one person gets infected, it spreads to the whole family.
According to a study by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the flu detection rates this year are as follows:

A pdm09 type: 94%
A Hong Kong type: 4%
B type: 2%
The characteristic of the A pdm09 type is its high infectivity. It is said that when one person gets infected, the entire family is likely to be infected as well.

▼ Main symptoms of type A:

Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Muscle pain
General fatigue
A notable feature of A pdm09 type is that it often causes lower respiratory tract infections. We asked Dr. Mizuno what kind of symptoms this involves.

―― The lower respiratory tract refers to the parts below the vocal cords, closer to the lungs. If the infection spreads to the area near the lungs or the lower respiratory tract, it can cause a lower respiratory tract infection, which may result in increased phlegm, worsened coughing, and in severe cases, oxygen levels may drop, causing difficulty breathing.

What's the best way to prevent it? The answer is clear—wear a mask to reduce the risk by "one-twentieth."
Effective preventive methods are, as expected, "hand washing" and "mask-wearing."

For hand washing, the key is to wash for more than 30 seconds with soap or a similar cleanser. While the cold weather and dryness can cause concerns about dry hands, it's important to note that dry skin can lead to increased bacterial growth and make it easier for viruses to adhere. Dr. Mizuno emphasizes that it is crucial to combine hand washing with moisturizing to prevent this.

Regarding masks, we spoke with Professor Katsufumi Yamakawa of Kyoto Institute of Technology. He explains that when worn correctly, masks can reduce the spread of droplets by one-fifth. In addition, they can reduce inhalation by one-fourth, effectively lowering the risk by one-twentieth. The key point is to press the mask tightly around the nose to prevent leaks. Furthermore, wearing a mask alone won't be as effective; widespread mask use among many people is needed to significantly reduce risk.

Dr. Mizuno answered some additional questions about other concerns.

Q: In addition to hand washing and wearing a mask, I've been doing nasal rinsing daily. Is it effective?

―― I think it's not effective if done only when you come home. While it can be beneficial, overdoing it may damage the mucous membranes. Doing it every few hours would likely be more effective.

Q: If I develop a fever during the year-end and New Year holidays, when hospitals are closed, is there anything I can do in advance?

―― It's important to keep fever reducers and cough medicine on hand, and to know which hospitals offer holiday emergency se

Influenza Infections Reach Warning Levels in Tokyo for the First Time in Six Years: Surge in Cancellations of Year-End Parties and Trips (December 27, 2024)
Influenza Cases in Tokyo Reach Warning Levels for the First Time in Six Years: Sudden Surge in Cancellations at Restaurants and Hotels Amid Widespread Infections

■ Restaurants Struggle with Year-End Party Cancellations

A popular izakaya specializing in charcoal-grilled skewers was bustling with customers enjoying year-end parties on the evening of December 26. However, the flu outbreak has led to a string of cancellations at the establishment.

A glance at the reservation calendar reveals that on Christmas Eve, December 24, all bookings were canceled.

Yakiton Yuka-chan Owner, Yuka Fujishima:
"On busy days, we've had as many as five cancellations in a single day. We don't charge cancellation fees since we're a casual eatery. It's frustrating, but it can't be helped. Christmas is usually our busiest time, but with the flu peaking, we've had a storm of cancellations. My colleagues and I are genuinely heartbroken."

To make matters worse, a staff member scheduled to work that day also caught the flu, forcing the restaurant to close temporarily.

Fujishima:
"On the 24th, we had to shut down the restaurant. It's a loss for us. This year, the flu cases are exceptionally high. We're doing everything we can—humidifying the space, ventilating regularly—but there's only so much we can do. I just hope this situation settles down soon."

■ Tokyo Reports First Flu Warning in Six Years

The number of influenza cases in Tokyo has doubled from the previous week. For the week ending December 22, the average number of flu patients per medical facility reached 40, surpassing the warning threshold for the first time in six years.

Professor Tetsuya Matsumoto, International University of Health and Welfare (Infectious Diseases):
"For the past three to four years, strict COVID-19 prevention measures significantly suppressed flu cases. However, as these measures have been relaxed, more people are now vulnerable to influenza, allowing it to spread rapidly."

Professor Matsumoto warns that the increased travel during the New Year holidays may lead to a further surge in cases.

Matsumoto:
"With people traveling for family visits and vacations, there will be more opportunities for transmission. Given these circumstances, it will be difficult to contain the spread, and there is a high likelihood of cases increasing further."

A 30-year-old man shared his experience:
"I developed a fever, and when I went to the hospital, they told me it was the flu. So I had to cancel my year-end party. I was really looking forward to it, so it's disappointing."

A 30-year-old woman commented:
"A lot of people around me, including my family, have come down with the flu. Just the other day, we had to cancel plans because someone wasn't feeling well."

■ Surge in Year-End Travel Cancellations

Despite being close to the New Year holidays, many accommodations remain available on travel websites.

In Katashina Village, Gunma Prefecture, a popular ski resort destination, a local pension is feeling the impact of the flu outbreak.

Pension Pechika Owner, Yuki Matsui:
"We mainly cater to families, but we've seen an increase in cancellations due to children catching the flu and then their parents getting infected as well. It's been a significant blow to us."

The pension offers a one-night stay with two meals for ¥14,000 per adult, featuring a dinner course centered around steak and locally sourced vegetables.

Matsui:
"We stock extra ingredients during the New Year holidays, so cancellations can be quite tough on us."

In previous years, the pension typically received about one cancellation per day. However, for December 30, five out of seven rooms have already been canceled, an unprecedented situation.

Matsui:
"Of course, we charge cancellation fees. However, if guests reschedule for another day, we waive the fee and apply it to their new booking. We make sure to inform our customers of this option."

(From the December 27, 2024, broadcast of Good! Morning)