Influenza Possibility of epidemic earlier than usual September 27:05
The number of influenza patients is increasing as early as possible. There are areas that have already exceeded the target of epidemic, and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases calls for thorough measures such as hand-washing as it may become a national epidemic almost two months earlier than usual.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of influenza cases reported from approximately 5,000 medical institutions nationwide during the week to 22nd of this month was 5716.
The number of patients per medical institution is 1.16 nationwide. By prefecture, the largest number is 52.22 in Okinawa, followed by 2.03 in Saga, 1.63 in Miyazaki, 1.6 in Fukuoka, and Ishikawa There are 1.44 people in prefectures and 1.06 people in Tokyo, etc., and in 10 metropolitan prefectures in total, it exceeds “1”, which is the standard for the start of the epidemic.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare states that Okinawa Prefecture is prominent and has pushed up the figures, so it is said that it has not entered the epidemic period nationwide. There are 97 schools nationwide. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, vaccines will be available at local medical institutions from next week.
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Director Tomasasa Sunagawa said that there is a possibility of entering a national epidemic in next month, almost two months earlier than usual, “In addition to thorough hand washing, if coughing and sneezing occur. I want you to wear a mask, and I'd like you to be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine started. "