MANILA, 31 August 2009—Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has reported that the winter flu season appears to have arrived much earlier this year. The information was based on an ongoing survey of influenza-like activity in over 500 hospitals and medical clinics nationwide.
The Ministry reported that the threshold indicating a shift into flu season was exceeded in mid-August. This is the first time since 1987 that Japan has seen a flu season begin before October. In Japan, the flu season usually starts in early November and continues until March.
To date, Japan has officially reported seven deaths linked with the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. The National Institute of Infectious Disease Japan estimated that the number of people seeking health care for a flu-like illness is around 150,000 per week. Further, the National Institute of Infectious Disease reports that the majority of influenza specimens being tested are returning a positive result for the H1N1 virus, indicating that this is the predominant influenza strain circulating in Japan at the moment.
This information comes at a time when the northern hemisphere is preparing for winter and an inevitable surge in H1N1 cases. The World Health Organization has warned that the number of cases in the northern hemisphere could soon begin to grow significantly.
The pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus is spread from person-to-person in virus laden droplets passed on when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The infected droplets can be inhaled, or they can contaminate hands or surfaces. The virus is transmitted as easily as normal seasonal influenza.
To prevent spread of the virus, WHO recommends people who are ill should cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; stay home when they are unwell; clean their hands regularly; and distance themselves from healthy people, as much as possible.
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