Category: Influenza

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 30, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Elderly Health Influenza Japan

Flu “alert” level approaches in Japan as cases rise 1.5-fold from previous week

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Monday 28th September that the number of influenza cases reported by around 3,000 designated medical institutions nationwide between Sept. 14 and 20 averaged 8.48 per institution. The figure was 1.53 times higher than the previous week, continuing an upward trend and approaching the “alert” level of 10 cases per institution.

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 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 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.