Lockdown in Japan soon? Schools, colleges shut, markets closed, border vigilance tightened, Govt declares national epidemic after…

Professor Yoko Tsukamoto of Hokkaido University of Health Sciences said, "This year, the flu season started quite early, but in the changing global environment, this could become a common occurrence."

New Delhi: The influenza cases in Japan are witnessing a major spike, prompting the authorities to declare a nationwide epidemic. Medical experts believe the virus is evolving at an unprecedented pace and spreading rapidly. The outbreak has overwhelmed hospital wards across Japan, forcing schools nationwide to shut down. However, it is important to note that such situations occur almost every year in Japan due to the flu, but this time it has arrived five weeks earlier than the scheduled period compared to last year.

The rapid and early spread indicates that the influenza virus is adapting to conditions at an unprecedented pace. However, this trend is not limited to Japan alone. Researchers worldwide have observed similar patterns, prompting calls for increased vigilance among both residents and incoming travelers.

University of Health Sciences Issues Statement

Professor Yoko Tsukamoto of Hokkaido University of Health Sciences said, “This year, the flu season started quite early, but in the changing global environment, this could become a common occurrence.”

Sakamoto told This Week in Asia that these changes may help explain why Japan is experiencing its earliest flu outbreak in two decades. He said, “We are seeing this resistance in Japan, but similar reports are also coming from other parts of the world.”

Sakamoto further added that, “We are seeing greater mobility of people in Japan and around the world. People are carrying the virus to new places, which is another factor helping the virus adapt to new environments.”

On October 3, Japan’s Ministry of Health declared an influenza epidemic after 4,030 people were treated for the flu at designated medical institutions across the country during the week starting September 22 — an increase of 957 cases compared to the previous week.

Reason Behind the Outbreak:

Health officials and scientists have pointed to several factors behind this surge. Among them is the large-scale return of tourism in the post-pandemic era, which has accelerated the movement of people—and viruses—across borders.