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With the changing weather and declining immunity, flu season was expected to arrive in the coming months across the world. However, Japan has declared a nationwide flu outbreak, following a high rise in hospitalisations and school closures, leaving the public health system under pressure.

Flu epidemic in Japan

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According to Japanese media reports, the Health Ministry has confirmed that the national average has surpassed the epidemic threshold, reaching 1.04 patients per medical institution.What’s surprising is that typically Japan sees a flu season from late November or December, but this year, the outbreak has arrived nearly five weeks earlier, alarming the citizens and officials.The Health Ministry reported that by October 3, more than 4,000 people had been hospitalised with influenza, a fourfold increase from the previous week. Twenty-eight of Japan’s 47 prefectures have reported rising cases. Particularly in Tokyo, Okinawa and Kagoshima at least 135 schools and childcare centres have been temporarily shut down.

Warning of a fast-evolving virus

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According to health specialists, the early and intense outbreak could signal a shift in the flu virus’s behaviour. Professor Yoko Tsukamoto of the Health Sciences University of Hokkaido spoke to the Japanese media, saying, “The flu season has started really early this year, but in the changing global environment this might become a more common scenario.”Tsukamoto advised common precautions like vaccination, wearing masks, washing hands regularly and avoiding spreading infection.Experts have been urging the vulnerable population including the elderly, children and those with pre-existing conditions to get vaccinated immediately. “For most healthy individuals, the flu may be unpleasant but not dangerous. But for vulnerable groups, early vaccination is crucial,” added Tsukamoto.