According to Xinhua News, data released by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on Nov. 7 shows that over 57,000 cases of influenza were reported nationwide by thousands of designated medical institutions in the week ending November 2, with new confirmed cases doubling compared to the previous week.
The latest data indicate that from October 27 to November 2, a total of 57,424 influenza cases were reported by designated medical institutions across Japan, averaging 14.9 cases per institution. The number of new cases has increased for 11 consecutive weeks.
According to Japan's standards, if the average number of influenza cases reported per designated medical institution exceeds one in a week, it marks the beginning of the flu season. If this value exceeds ten, it reaches the "Alert" level, which is one level below "Warning." Based on this standard, 25 out of Japan's 47 prefectures have already reached the "Alert" level.
Regionally, Miyagi Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Saitama Prefecture are experiencing more severe influenza outbreaks, with an average of nearly 30 reported cases per designated medical institution, reaching the "Warning" level.
Due to the spread of influenza, as of November 2, a total of 2,307 kindergartens, nursery schools, and elementary and middle schools across Japan have suspended classes entirely or partially for certain grades and classes.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced the start of the flu season nationwide on October 3, approximately one month earlier than last year. This year's flu season start date is the second-earliest since the current statistical method was implemented in 1999.
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