Japan is grappling with a severe influenza outbreak that has led to unprecedented shortages of flu medication in hospitals and pharmacies nationwide. Since flu cases hit a record high in late December last year, panic buying and uneven stock distribution have exacerbated the problem, leaving many patients without access to essential treatments.
According to data released by Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases on January 31, from September 2, 2024, to January 26, 2025, the country recorded approximately 9.523 million flu cases. This alarming figure reflects the rapid spread of the virus and heightened demand for medical resources.
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare reported on January 11, 2025, that the final week of December 2024 marked the highest weekly flu caseload since record-keeping began in 1999. Approximately 5,000 designated medical institutions reported 317,812 patients during that week, averaging 64.39 cases per facility—far surpassing the government's warning threshold of 30.
Health officials have repeatedly urged citizens to adopt preventive measures such as wearing masks and practicing thorough handwashing to curb the spread of the virus. Despite these appeals, the surge in cases has led some medical institutions and pharmacies to experience shortages of flu medication, attributed to excessive hoarding by certain facilities and uneven distribution of stocks.
Compounding the public health challenges, Japan is also experiencing a surge of avian influenza outbreaks. In January alone, around 5 million chickens and other birds were culled across five prefectures. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries warned that the outbreaks show no signs of slowing and that the situation may worsen, potentially breaking previous records.
The ministry also noted the impact on egg prices, reporting a 15 percent increase since the start of the year. The combination of human and avian influenza outbreaks is putting additional strain on the country's healthcare and agricultural sectors.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging the public to remain vigilant and follow recommended health guidelines to mitigate the spread of both influenza strains.
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Panic buying causes drug shortages in Japan amid flu outbreak
cgtn.com
