Hospital admissions for flu rose sharply last week, according to the Infectious Disease Surveillance Center (IDSC).
According to the center, admissions up to Jan 13 were over three times higher than the week before. Nationally, an average of 12.07 patients per institution were admitted for treatment, up from 3.91 the week before. The IDSC says last week marked the first time this year the number has risen to over 10 patients per institution, TBS reported Sunday.
Most patients had been admitted for Type A influenza subtype H3N2, known in Japan as "Hong Kong Type A," the center says. When broken down by prefecture, the highest average number of reported admissions per institution was in Gunma, which saw 27.71 patients, followed by Ibaraki with 25.88 and then Chiba with 22.52. The IDSC also said the infection rate was especially high throughout Kanto.
The IDSC said that it expects infections to continue to increase and has called on the public to wash their hands regularly, to gargle when arriving home and to receive vaccination shots in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
© Japan Today
12 Comments
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sighclops
hypochondriacs out in full force!
kitzrow
I am presently visiting the U.S. and the flu has been rampant all over the States. I see that it finally got to Japan. Hope you got your flu shot!
Takuma7
We all got our shots. Already hit my sons school down here on Okinawa.
Ms. Alexander
Japan should give out free flu shots. It's not a 100% guarantee but it'll lessen the number of patients (if they get the shot).
sf2k
masks don't work. Wash your hands
waltery
The symphony of snot on the trains is building to a crescendo. I used to get annoyed when I hear the sucking of snot rather than the blowing of noses but now I'm almost immune to it. I had my case of the lurgy and with the help of lots of fluid sleep aspirin and vitamin C and a r brandy before bed I got over it quickly.
Yubaru
Yeah right....when the doctor sticks a swab up your nose to check to see if you have the flu virus and it comes back positive and you call them hypochondriacs? Get a life.
The symptoms are greatly reduced with the shot, and time for recovery are much faster, but it doesnt mean you wont catch it. I know doctors that only recommend that people who are prone to illness, the elderly and young, and people in jobs where they deal with many different people on a daily basis, like teachers, get the shots. Otherwise for many it's just a waste of time and money if they are typically healthy folks.
The shot is NOT covered by medical insurance.
Crazedinjapan
Part of this is the poor company ethics that's rampant here . If you are sick or not feeling well STAY home ! Don't get on the train and handle the rings/poles and cough through that useless mask that doesn't stop sh¥t from flying out around where it's not sealed against your face. Stop making passengers and coworkers sick and probably less people will end up at the hospital. Snot suckers!!! Most annoying sound ever ....reminds me of a pig eating out if a trough ! Basically the company can wait...respect the health of the people you work with and the ones you commute with.
BernieK
Alcohol can't kill a virus. Relenza kills viruses.
Carcharodon
I have been researching up on the efficacy of flu shots - the scientific papers dont really back them up. interesting 70% of US doctors don't take flu shots themselves - what do they know that we don't?
Staying healthy - all year round is the key to avoiding flu. Eat a clean diet, sleep well, eat fremented foods, wash your hands, Take cod liver oil Vitamins A & D both play significant roles in immune health. Fermented cod liver oil is rich in both, and also contains vitamins K2, and E.
If your health is crap to begin with then perhaps a flu shot could be the ticket to save you.
lucabrasi
@Carcharodon
You're so right. Every year my wife and kids (at her insistence) troop troop off to the local quack for their flu jabs, while I stay home and have a beer. And every year they all get the flu, one after another, while I watch and shake my healthy head in frustration. And have another beer. And they say alcohol doesn't kill viruses....
Yubaru
It's all a part of the herd mentality.