Number of influenza patients significantly reduced from the average year Beware of future epidemics November 6, 20:12

The number of cases reported so far for influenza, which is feared to be a simultaneous epidemic with the new coronavirus, continues to be significantly lower than usual, but the National Institute of Infectious Diseases is paying attention to the future epidemic situation. I am calling for you to do so.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of influenza patients reported by about 5,000 medical institutions nationwide in the week leading up to the 1st of this month was 32, an increase of 2 from the previous week.



Influenza is said to enter the "national epidemic period" when the number of patients per week per medical institution exceeds one in the whole country, but at this point it is far below 0.006.



The number of reported cases increased by 2 from 14 prefectures in the previous week to 16 prefectures.



According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, there are still few reports of hundreds to 3,000 people at the same time every year.



Globally, the influenza epidemic is at a lower level than usual, and it is possible that various measures have been taken against the new coronavirus.



However, the time when influenza enters the national epidemic is from November to December every year, and it varies greatly from year to year, so the National Institute of Infectious Diseases continues to call for attention to the epidemic situation.