😷🚨 As flu cases in Japan soar to record highs, pharmacies and hospitals are running low on medication, leaving many scrambling for relief! Since late December last year, the country has been grappling with an unprecedented flu season, and panic buying isn't helping. 🛍️💊
According to reports, uneven stock distribution and excessive hoarding by some medical institutions have led to shortages of essential flu meds. It's a tough time for those in need, as the demand far outstrips the supply.
Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases dropped some jaw-dropping stats: from September 2, 2024, to January 26, 2025, there were approximately 9.523 million flu cases nationwide! That's wild! 🤯 Data released on January 31 confirms it.
The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare reported that the final week of December 2024 saw the highest weekly flu caseload since record-keeping began in 1999. Around 5,000 designated medical institutions reported a whopping 317,812 patients that week—that's an average of 64.39 cases per facility, more than double the government's warning threshold of 30! 📈🔥
Health officials are urging everyone to mask up and wash those hands thoroughly. It's essential to take precautions and help curb the spread. 🧼🤲
But wait, there's more! Japan is also battling a surge of avian influenza outbreaks. Around 5 million chickens and other birds have been culled across five prefectures in January alone. 🐔💔
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is sounding the alarm, warning that the bird flu situation shows no signs of slowing and might even break records. Egg prices are on the rise too, with a 15% increase since the start of the year. 🍳📈
Stay safe out there, everyone! Let's look out for each other and hope for better days ahead. 🌞✨
Reference(s):
Panic buying causes drug shortages in Japan amid flu outbreak
cgtn.com
