Japan logs first drop in influenza cases in 3 months

Xinhua
18 Nov 2023, 14:30 GMT+10

TOKYO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The average number of influenza patients per regularly monitored medical institution in Japan this week came to 17.35, down by 3.78 from a week earlier, marking its first week-on-week decline in about three months, the health ministry has said.

About 5,000 such designated facilities across the country reported 85,766 cases in the week through Sunday, with the per-institution count dropping week on week for the first time since the week starting Aug. 14, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases said on Friday.

The estimated number of patients nationwide for the week leading up to Sunday is 635,000, a decline of 98,000 from the previous seven-day period, it added.

Kazuhiro Tateda, a professor at Toho University's Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, said that health officials need to monitor the situation for several weeks to determine whether case counts will continue to fall and stabilize at lower levels or start rising again.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Japan Herald.

More Information

5 ℃

Fair in Shinagawa City

Asia Pacific

Section

Import of single-use vaping devices to be banned in Australia

CANBERRA, Australia: As the first step in its efforts to curb the growing popularity of nicotine-filled devices with young people, ...

Currency issues affect Russia's oil trade with Asia

MOSCOW, Russia: Russia's trade in oil with India, one of the most lucrative oil trade routes since the imposition of ...

Experts decry New Zealand government move to lift tobacco ban

LONDON - Health experts and tobacco campaigners have strongly criticized New Zealand's decision to repeal laws that aimed to ban ...

Myanmar ethnic group alliance captures trade gate on Chinese border

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Kyar Win, spokesperson for the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which launched a surprise offensive last month against ...

USWNT blanks China PR in first of two friendlies

(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports) Sophia Smith scored early in a rare start at center forward and the U.S. ...

Strong Quake in Philippines Triggers Evacuations, Tsunami Warnings

manila, Philippines - Evacuations were underway in the Philippines after a quake of at least magnitude 7.5 struck the southern ...

Business

Section