COVID-19 News: Japan Witnessing A Catastrophic Twindemic Of SARS-CoV-2 And Flu Infections Rising At An Unprecedented Rate!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 16, 2023 11 months, 1 week, 29 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: As winter blankets Japan, the nation finds itself grappling with a perilous convergence of escalating COVID-19 and influenza infections, a dire situation described by health officials as a catastrophic twindemic. The latest reports from Japan's health ministry paint a concerning picture, with both viral outbreaks intensifying at an alarming rate.
COVID-19 Surge
The health ministry's data reveals a disquieting trend as coronavirus cases surge across the country for the third consecutive week. Approximately 5,000 medical institutions nationwide reported a staggering 17,379 cases in the seven-day period through last Sunday, marking a significant increase of 3,796 from the previous week. The average number of patients per institution also witnessed a worrisome week-on-week rise of 28 percent, standing at 3.52 nationwide.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231215_21/
The upward trajectory in cases is pervasive, with all 47 prefectures experiencing an increase. Hokkaido leads with an average of 7.82 patients per institution, followed closely by Yamanashi (7.76), Nagano (6.64), Gifu (5), and Aichi (4.8). About 500 institutions reported 1,468 hospitalizations, reflecting a notable surge of 445 cases from the preceding week. Officials urgently emphasize the need for continued anti-infection measures, particularly as infections tend to peak during the winter season.
More Accurate COVID-19 Data From Sapporo Medical University
Sapporo Medical University which maintains very stringent surveillance of the COVID-19 situation in Japan in collaboration with educational intuitions in various prefectures across Japan is warning that COVID-19 infections across the whole of Japan is rising at an unprecedented rate!
https://web.sapmed.ac.jp/canmol/coronavirus/japan_estimate.html?s=y#date
COVID-19 Hospitalization rates and COVID-19 death rates are also rising at alarming levels.
https://web.sapmed.ac.jp/canmol/coronavirus/japan_admission.html?s=y#date
Flu Outbreak Reaches Alarming Levels
Adding to the complexity, the flu outbreak in Japan has reached warning levels at an unprecedented pace, presenting an additional layer of concern for health authorities. According to local
COVID-19 News and flu news coverages, the central government reported that, on average, influenza patients at thousands of designated medical institutions nationwide reached warning levels at their fastest pace in a decade.
Roughly 5,000 institutions reported 166,690 patients in the week through December 10, averaging 33.72 people per facility - surpassing the warning level of 30.
https://www.japanti
mes.co.jp/news/2023/12/16/japan/science-health/influenza-record-rise/
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases estimates that the nationwide tally for flu patients during the same period is around 1,118,000. This accelerated spread is attributed to reduced influenza immunity resulting from years of declining cases, compounded by anti-infection measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health experts warn that the influenza virus is spreading approximately a month earlier than usual.
Heightened Concerns and Precautions
Health authorities express growing concerns that the concurrent surge in COVID-19 and flu cases may intensify as year-end and New Year's social gatherings take place in Japan. School closures have been mandated at 6,382 educational facilities nationwide in the week through Sunday, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
In a bid to mitigate the impact, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare issued a caution against the flu in October when cases surpassed the advisory level of 10 people per institution for that month. Nobuhiko Okabe, the head of the Kawasaki City Institute for Public Health, emphasizes the need for individual preventive measures, echoing the strategies employed against COVID-19, including vaccination, mask-wearing, and avoiding crowded places.
Conclusion
As Japan faces the unprecedented challenge of a twindemic, the nation must collectively prioritize stringent preventive measures to curb the escalating spread of both COVID-19 and influenza. The urgency of the situation necessitates a unified response from the public, policymakers, and health authorities to navigate this perilous winter season and safeguard the well-being of the population.
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COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
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