Influenza has caused panic in many Asian countries, including Japan. Hospitalizations are steadily increasing. Japan declared a nationwide epidemic five weeks ahead of schedule, citing a record increase in the number of influenza patients. The number of cases is also rising in India.

Tokyo: These days influenza has created panic in the world. Due to this, Japan has declared an epidemic due to the increasing number of patients. Influenza flu has wreaked havoc not only in Japan but in many countries. The number of its patients is continuously increasing in India also. The patients most affected by influenza flu are young people. This flu starts with fever, cough and sore throat in the patient and within no time it weakens the entire body. Due to this, a huge increase has been seen in the number of patients admitted to the hospital in many countries.

Why was the epidemic declared in Japan?

Japanese health officials have reported a record surge in influenza cases, five weeks earlier than expected, prompting a nationwide pandemic declaration. This is the second time in the past two decades that an influenza outbreak has emerged so early in a year. More than 4,000 people were treated for the flu in Japan between September 22 and 28, equivalent to an average of 1.04 patients per monitored medical institution, surpassing the epidemic threshold.

Schools and childcare closed in Japan

Between September 29 and October 5, the number of cases in Japan increased to more than 6,000, with an average of 1.56 patients per institution, more than double the 0.77 recorded during the same period last year. From September 22 to October 3, 135 schools and childcare centers across Japan were closed, a number several times higher than during the same period last year. Twenty-eight of Japan's 47 prefectures reported an increase in flu cases, with Okinawa seeing the highest proportion.

Flu cases are rising across Asia

The flu outbreak in Japan reflects a broader regional trend. Flu cases have also risen in Singapore, Thailand, and India in recent weeks. In northern India, the spread of the H3N2 virus—a descendant of the strain that caused the 1968 Hong Kong flu pandemic—has become a growing concern. Dr. Martin Beer, vice president of Germany's Federal Institute for Animal Health (Friedrich Loeffler Institute), told DW News that this particular strain is a mixture of human and avian influenza viruses.

Influenza also causes seasonal outbreaks

There are four types of influenza viruses: types A, B, C, and D. Types A and B primarily cause seasonal outbreaks of influenza. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), although the symptoms of influenza and the common cold are similar, the common cold can also be caused by several other viruses, including rhinovirus.

 PC:NBT