Category: Infectious Diseases

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 5, 2026 Number of comments0
Disasters Infectious Diseases Influenza Japan Podcast Typhoon

On Typhoons and Influenza [Podcast Episode]

The average number of influenza patients per monitored medical institution has exceeded 1.0 in all 47 Japanese prefectures, signaling a nationwide flu outbreak, a health ministry announcement showed Friday. The ministry said that the number of flu patients at some 3,000 regularly monitored institutions across the country came to 7.17 on average in the week through Sunday. While the figure was slightly lower than 8.48 the previous week, a ministry official said, “The decline may be temporary, given trends in previous years.” A large and powerful typhoon, now over the sea far south of Japan, is expected to move north while developing and come closest to the Pacific islands of Ogasawara early next week.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 5, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Earthquake Elderly Health Infectious Diseases Influenza Japan Kumamoto

Flu Spreads in Quake-Hit Kumamoto as Japan Sees Early Outbreak

As Japan saw the second-earliest start of a nationwide influenza outbreak, the flu is also spreading in Kumamoto Prefecture, which was hit by a powerful earthquake in July. With more than 1,300 people still staying at evacuation centers two months after the July 28 temblor that registered the maximum 7 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, an expert has stressed the importance of getting vaccinated early.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 3, 2026 1
Health Infectious Diseases Influenza Japan

Japan Hit by Nationwide Flu Outbreak

The average number of influenza patients per monitored medical institution has exceeded 1.0 in all 47 Japanese prefectures, signaling a nationwide flu outbreak, a health ministry announcement showed Friday. The ministry said that the number of flu patients at some 3,000 regularly monitored institutions across the country came to 7.17 on average in the week through Sunday.
While the figure was slightly lower than 8.48 the previous week, a ministry official said, “The decline may be temporary, given trends in previous years.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 7, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Infectious Diseases Influenza Japan Podcast

A podcast of early flu seasons and weak typhoons [Podcast Episode]

Japan has entered the influenza season, the health ministry said on Friday 28th August, marking the second earliest start since 1999, when the infectious disease control law went into force. In the week to Sunday, the number of flu patients reported by some 3,000 designated medical institutions across the country stood at 1.11 per institution. A reading of 1 or higher suggests that flu season has begun. The earliest start of flu season was recorded in 2009, about a week earlier than the ongoing season, excluding 2023, when the outbreak continued yearlong.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 1, 2026 1
Infectious Diseases Influenza Japan Medical

Japan Enters Flu Season, Marking 2nd Earliest Start

Japan has entered the influenza season, the health ministry said on Friday 28th August, marking the second earliest start since 1999, when the infectious disease control law went into force. 
   In the week to Sunday, the number of flu patients reported by some 3,000 designated medical institutions across the country stood at 1.11 per institution. A reading of 1 or higher suggests that flu season has begun.
 The earliest start of flu season was recorded in 2009, about a week earlier than the ongoing season, excluding 2023, when the outbreak continued yearlong.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 8, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Health Infectious Diseases Japan Medical

Risk of Hantavirus Spread in Japan Low: Health Ministry

The risk of hantavirus spreading in Japan through person-to-person transmission is low, even if infected passengers from a cruise ship linked to a recent outbreak enter the country, the health ministry said Wednesday. The ministry called on the public to remain calm, after three people died in a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. A Japanese national is among passengers on the ship.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 19, 2026 Number of comments0
COVID-19 Disability Infectious Diseases Japan

Japan on Track to Log Highest Post-Pandemic Measles Cases

Japan is on pace to log its highest annual measles cases this year since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 236 patients confirmed by early April compared with the post-pandemic full-year high of 265 marked last year. About half of patients are in the 10-29 age group, and the Japan Pediatric Society is calling on people to get vaccinated.