The number of influenza patients nationwide was estimated to be approximately 289,000 in the week ending on the 5th of this month, decreasing from the previous week for three consecutive weeks.
However, the number of patients per medical institution has exceeded the ``alert level'' level, which is said to have the potential for a major epidemic, for six consecutive weeks, and experts continue to call for caution.
According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases and other sources, the number of influenza patients reported by approximately 5,000 medical institutions nationwide during the week through the 5th of this month was 50,235, a decrease of 5,638 from the previous week.
The number of patients per week per medical institution was 10.17, a decrease from the previous week for the third consecutive week, but it exceeded the "alert level" level of 10 for the sixth consecutive week.
In addition, the number of patients nationwide per week estimated from this is about 289,000.
The number of patients per week per medical institution is
▽ 33.77 in Ishikawa Prefecture
, 33.37 in Iwate Prefecture,
exceeding the "warning level" of 30,
▽ 26.25 in Toyama
, 23.46 in Fukui, and 23.46
in Saga. 18
prefectures, such as 16.08
prefectures, have 10 or more "alert level".
Professor Kazuhiro Tateda of Toho University, who is familiar with infectious diseases, said, "Although the number is still above the warning level nationwide, it is thought that the peak of the spread of infection has passed. The influenza epidemic usually subsides by the end of March, so until then It is important to continue to take appropriate measures,” he said.