Category: Infectious Diseases

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 22, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Infectious Diseases Influenza Japan

Japan’s flu cases hit warning level at fastest pace in 10 yrs

The Japanese government said Friday the average number of influenza patients at designated medical institutions nationwide has hit warning levels at the fastest pace in 10 years, with some experts pointing to the rising number of inbound tourists as one of the likely factors for the epidemic’s earlier-than-usual spread. Across roughly 3,000 institutions, 145,526 patients were reported during the week from Nov. 10 to Sunday, averaging 37.73 people per facility and surpassing the warning level of 30, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 6, 2025 Number of comments0
Infectious Diseases Japan Medical

Japan Confirms 3rd Bird Flu Case of Season

The prefectural government of Niigata, central Japan, said Tuesday that it has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in the city of Tainai.It marks the third bird flu outbreak confirmed at a poultry farm in Japan this season. A total of 630,000 egg-laying chickens at the Niigata farm will be culled. According to the prefectural government, the farm reported abnormalities, including an increase in the number of chicken deaths, on Monday morning.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 5, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Infectious Diseases Influenza Japan Medical

Flu Season Starts Earlier Than Usual in Japan

Influenza outbreaks have started in Japan in late September, earlier than usual, partly because of increases in cross-border travel. According to the health ministry, the number of flu patients reported by regularly monitored medical institutions across the country in the week to Oct. 26 stood at 6.29 per facility. By prefecture, Okinawa, southernmost Japan, topped the list, with 19.40, followed by three neighboring Tokyo–Kanagawa, with 11.88, Chiba, with 11.82, and Saitama, with 11.73.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 8, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Infectious Diseases Influenza Japan Podcast

Flu Season Starts in Japan, 2nd Earliest in 20 Years [Podcast Episode]

Japan has entered the influenza season nationwide, marking the second-earliest beginning in the past 20 years, the health ministry said Friday. The number of flu patients reported from some 3,000 regularly monitored medical institutions across the country stood at 1.04 per institution in the week through Sunday 5th October.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 28, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability HIV Infectious Diseases Japan

New HIV Infections, AIDS Patients in Japan Up for 2nd Year

Japan confirmed 994 new cases of HIV infection and AIDS in 2024, up 34 from the previous year and marking the second consecutive annual increase, the health ministry said Friday. The tally included 662 new HIV carriers, down seven, and 332 new AIDS patients, up 41. Sexual contact remained the leading transmission route, with 417 HIV and 170 AIDS cases. By age, people in their 30s accounted for the most HIV infections at 210, followed by those in their 20s at 208, while among AIDS patients, those 50 and older made up the largest group with 106 cases, followed by people in their 40s with 85.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 23, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Health Infectious Diseases Japan

Tick-Borne Infection Cases Hit Record High in Japan

The number of people diagnosed with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or SFTS, a tick-borne viral disease, in Japan this year totaled 135 as of Aug. 10, marking a record high, according to data from the Japan Institute for Health Security. The previous record high was 134 cases in 2023. If infected, the disease can cause symptoms, including fever and abdominal pain, after an incubation period of six to 14 days.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 24, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Health Infectious Diseases Japan

Japan begins pre-entry TB checks for foreigners staying over 3 months

Japan introduced mandatory pre-arrival tuberculosis screening on Monday for people planning to stay over three months, starting with those from the Philippines and Nepal, a government official said.

Vietnam is expected to be added to the list in September, with Indonesia, Myanmar and China to follow.

The number of foreign nationals diagnosed with the infectious disease while in Japan is on the rise, and they are comprised mostly of people from the six countries, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. While tuberculosis is curable and preventable, it killed an estimated 1.25 million people in 2023 and has likely regained its status as the world’s deadliest infectious disease after being temporarily overtaken by COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization.