As Japan grapples with a severe flu outbreak, panic buying has led to significant shortages of flu medication across hospitals and pharmacies nationwide. The unprecedented demand for antiviral drugs has strained the healthcare system, leaving many patients without essential treatment.
According to data released on January 31 by Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the country recorded approximately 9.523 million flu cases from September 2, 2024, to January 26, 2025. This marks one of the highest flu seasons in recent history, with the final week of December 2024 alone registering record-breaking numbers.
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare reported on January 11, 2025, that the final week of December 2024 saw 317,812 patients across approximately 5,000 designated medical institutions. This translates to an average of 64.39 cases per facility, more than double the government's warning threshold of 30 cases.
The surge in flu cases has led to uneven stock distribution of medications, exacerbated by excessive hoarding by certain medical institutions, as reported by China Media Group. This has resulted in some hospitals and pharmacies facing critical shortages of flu medication, impacting patient care.
Health officials have repeatedly urged citizens to adopt preventive measures such as mask-wearing and thorough handwashing to curb the spread of the virus. Despite these appeals, the high infection rates continue, fueling public anxiety and further panic buying.
Adding to the nation's health challenges, Japan is also experiencing a surge in avian influenza outbreaks. In January alone, around 5 million chickens and other birds were culled across five prefectures in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries warned that the avian influenza outbreaks show no signs of slowing down and may worsen, potentially breaking previous records. The culling has also impacted egg prices, with the ministry reporting a 15 percent increase since the start of the year.
The concurrent outbreaks of human influenza and avian influenza place significant strain on Japan's healthcare and agricultural sectors. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of public cooperation in following health guidelines to mitigate the impact of these outbreaks.
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Panic buying causes drug shortages in Japan amid flu outbreak
cgtn.com
