Nationwide pandemic declared in this country, all schools and colleges closed, vigilance on the border

Japan has declared a nationwide state of emergency due to a rapidly increasing number of influenza cases. Schools and colleges have been closed and border surveillance has been increased. People have also been urged to remain vigilant as the virus is spreading rapidly.

Nationwide pandemic declared: Japan has declared a nationwide epidemic due to an unprecedented initial surge in influenza cases. Medical experts have warned that the virus is evolving and spreading more easily than ever before. The outbreak has overwhelmed hospital wards and forced the closure of schools across the country. Flu outbreaks in Japan occur almost annually, but this time it has arrived five weeks earlier than last year.

The virus’s rapidity has alarmed doctors.

The rapid spread suggests that the influenza virus is adapting to circumstances with unprecedented speed. But this trend isn’t limited to Japan. Researchers around the world have observed similar patterns, prompting calls for increased vigilance among both residents and visitors.

The virus has also developed resistance.

Yoko Tsukamoto, a professor at Hokkaido University of Health Sciences, said, “This year’s flu season has started very early, but this could become a common occurrence in the changing global environment.” Research indicates that the virus is not only spreading more efficiently but also developing resistance to traditional treatments.

Worsening conditions in many parts of the world

Tsukamoto told This Week in Asia that these changes may help explain why Japan is experiencing its second-fastest flu outbreak in two decades. “We’re seeing this immunity in Japan, but it’s also being reported in other parts of the world,” he said.

Why is the virus spreading in Japan?

Health officials and scientists have pointed to several factors behind this increase. These include the return of mass tourism in the post-pandemic period, which has accelerated the movement of people and the virus across borders. “We’re seeing more movement of people in Japan and around the world, people carrying the virus to new places, which is another factor in the virus adapting to new environments,” Tsukamoto said.

How many cases have been reported in Japan?

On October 3, Japan’s Ministry of Health declared an epidemic after 4,030 people were treated for influenza at designated medical institutions across the country in the week beginning September 22, an increase of 957 cases from the previous week. The ministry said the number of cases has exceeded the epidemic threshold, with an average of 1.04 patients per institution. Outbreaks among children have led to the closure of 135 schools, kindergartens, and childcare centers, a threefold increase from the same week last year.

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