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by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 20, 2025 Number of comments0
Infectious Diseases Japan

Japan Minister Declares Unusual Situation over Bird Flu

Japanese agriculture minister Taku Eto said Monday that the country is in an unusual situation over the current spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. “The situation has become unusual,” Eto told an emergency meeting of prefectural governments and industry groups on the day. This month alone, there have been 23 outbreaks, resulting in the culling of about 4.18 million birds. This has already surpassed the 19 outbreaks in January of the 2022-2023 season, which was the country’s worst bird flu season on record. In January of that season, 4.63 million birds were destroyed.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 20, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Infectious Diseases Japan

More Avian Flu Cases Found in Japan; 1.44 M. Birds to Be Culled

The Aichi prefectural government said Sunday that outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been confirmed at three chicken farms and a quail farm in the central Japan prefecture. The prefectural government of Chiba, east of Tokyo, the same day announced avian flu cases at three chicken farms in the cities of Choshi and Asahi.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 20, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Disasters Earthquake Elderly Japan Typhoon

Japan sees 5,400 deaths from post-disaster fatigue, stress since 1995

More than 5,400 people died in Japan over the past 30 years due to severe stress and exhaustion caused by evacuation following earthquakes and other natural disasters, according to a recent tally by Kyodo News. At least 5,456 “disaster-related deaths” have been recognized since local governments began such designation following the Great Hanshin Earthquake in western Japan on Jan. 17, 1995, with the figure including deaths linked to the Noto Peninsula quake last year.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 19, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Infectious Diseases Influenza Japan

As weekly influenza cases average at alert level in 40 prefectures in Japan, facilities for people with disabilities struggle

As influenza and COVID-19 infections spread, facilities for people with disabilities are also struggling to respond. Facilities for people with severe intellectual disabilities have found it difficult to take precautions, and there have been cases of infections spreading among users and staff.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 18, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Disasters Earthquake Japan Nankai Trough

Japan Raises Nankai Trough Megaquake Probability to Some 80 Percent

The Japanese government’s Earthquake Research Committee has increased its assessed probability of an earthquake with a magnitude of 8 to 9 occurring along the Nankai Trough off the country’s Pacific coast within the next 30 years to some 80 pct from 70-80 pct, officials said. When a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Monday, the panel at the time concluded that Monday’s earthquake was not a phenomenon that could be considered to have relatively increased the possibility of a Nankai Trough earthquake occurring compared with normal times.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 18, 2025 Number of comments0
Children Japan Nursing Care

Ex-Nursery Worker Ruled Not Guilty over Girl’s Death in 2017

A Japanese district court Thursday found a former worker of a nursery school not guilty of assaulting and killing a 1-year-old girl in 2017.
Judge Takeshi Okuyama, who presided over the lay-judge trial at Yokohama District Court in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, issued the ruling, rejecting the prosecution’s demand for a 10-year prison term for the former worker.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 15, 2025 Number of comments0
Coronavirus COVID-19 Infectious Diseases Japan

70 mil. COVID cases, 130,000 deaths in 5 yrs since outbreak in Japan

As Japan marks five years on Wednesday since its first confirmed case of COVID-19, government data show that over 70 million people in the country are estimated to have contracted the virus as of March last year, while total deaths stood at 130,000 as of last August. While yearly deaths have declined since peaking during the Omicron variant surge in 2022, fatalities remain significantly higher than for influenza, with the virus continuing to spread seasonally in summer and winter.