Japan is grappling with significant shortages of flu medications as panic buying sweeps the nation amid record-breaking influenza and avian influenza outbreaks.
Since flu cases hit a record high in late December last year, hospitals and pharmacies have reported dwindling supplies of essential flu drugs. According to China Media Group, the shortages have been attributed to uneven stock distribution, exacerbated by excessive hoarding by certain medical institutions.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases estimated that from September 2, 2024, to January 26, 2025, Japan recorded approximately 9.523 million flu cases, according to data released on January 31. This surge marks one of the most severe flu seasons the country has faced in decades.
On January 11, 2025, 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. 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.
In response to the escalating situation, health officials have repeatedly urged citizens to adopt precautionary measures such as mask-wearing and thorough handwashing to curb the spread of the virus.
Compounding the public health crisis, Japan is also experiencing 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 warned that the avian influenza outbreaks show no signs of slowing, and the situation may worsen, potentially breaking previous records. The ministry also noted a significant impact on egg prices, reporting a 15 percent increase since the start of the year.
The dual outbreaks have raised concerns over Japan's public health readiness and the potential economic impact, prompting authorities to take measures to mitigate the crises.
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Panic buying causes drug shortages in Japan amid flu outbreak
cgtn.com
