😷 Flu Frenzy Hits Japan: Drug Shortages Amid Panic Buying 🇯🇵
Flu season has taken Japan by storm, and it's no joke! Since late December last year, hospitals and pharmacies across the country have been grappling with serious shortages of flu medication. The reason? Panic buying and hoarding have thrown the distribution of meds totally out of whack!
According to China Media Group, some medical institutions have been stockpiling meds like there's no tomorrow, making it harder for others to get the supplies they need. Talk about uneven stock distribution! 🏥💊
The numbers are staggering. Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases estimated that from September 2, 2024, to January 26, 2025, there have been approximately 9.523 million flu cases. That's insane! 🤯 Data released on January 31 shows just how widespread this outbreak is.
To put it in perspective, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare reported that the final week of December 2024 saw the highest weekly flu caseload since records began in 1999. Around 5,000 designated medical institutions reported 317,812 patients in that week alone—averaging 64.39 cases per facility! That's more than double the government's warning threshold of 30. 🚨
Health officials are urging everyone to stay safe by wearing masks and washing hands thoroughly. So, don't forget to mask up and wash those hands like a pro! 🧼👐
But wait, there's more. Japan is also battling a surge of avian influenza outbreaks. In January, about 5 million chickens and other birds were culled across five prefectures. 🐔❌
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries warns that the bird flu situation is showing no signs of slowing down and could get even worse—potentially breaking records. Not only is this bad news for poultry, but egg prices have also spiked by 15% since the start of the year. 🥚💸
It's a tough time for Japan with both human and avian flu causing chaos. Stay informed, stay safe, and let's hope for brighter days ahead! ✌️🌞
(With input from Xinhua)
Reference(s):
Panic buying causes drug shortages in Japan amid flu outbreak
cgtn.com
