The number of reported cases of influenza this season in the week ending 21st of this month is 49 nationwide, and the number of infected people continues to be significantly lower.
According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the number of influenza patients reported by about 5,000 medical institutions nationwide during the week up to the 21st of this month was 49, seven fewer than the previous week.
Patients were reported in 20 prefectures nationwide.
The number of patients nationwide this week is estimated to be about 1,000, and the cumulative total since last fall is estimated to be about 14,000.
Influenza is considered to enter the "national epidemic period" when the number of patients per week exceeds one per medical institution, but it is 0.01 per medical institution, which is far below one.
The epidemic peaks from January to February each year, and the number of cases reported during this period is close to 100,000 to 200,000 per week, but this is significantly less. it is continuing.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, it is the first time that influenza has not spread at this time since 1999, when the investigation was started using the current method.