Influenza spreads across all Japanese prefectures

Influenza cases are rising rapidly across Japan, with the epidemic starting significantly earlier than in previous years. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, infection rates have exceeded epidemic thresholds in all prefectures. In Okinawa, the situation has reached the ‘warning level’ with 42.50 cases per medical institution, while other regions like Saitama, Ibaraki, Aichi, and Gifu have surpassed the ‘advisory level’.

Medical experts suggest several factors contributing to this early surge, including increased travel from the Southern Hemisphere, prolonged rainy seasons, and decreased physical activity due to weather, which may have lowered population immunity. In Ishikawa Prefecture, cases increased by 30% in a single week, and several schools have already reported outbreaks leading to class closures.

Regarding prevention, doctors emphasize the importance of vaccination, though they note that effectiveness against certain strains, such as H3, may vary. For those aged 13 and older, a single dose is generally considered sufficient. Health professionals also recommend maintaining hand hygiene, adequate nutrition—specifically protein intake to support immune cells—and proper humidity levels in living spaces to mitigate infection risks.