Panic buying of flu medications in Japan has resulted in critical shortages amid a record-breaking influenza outbreak.
Since flu cases surged to unprecedented levels in late December last year, hospitals and pharmacies across Japan have reported difficulties in securing adequate supplies of flu medication. According to China Media Group, the shortages are attributed to uneven stock distribution, exacerbated by excessive hoarding by certain medical institutions.
Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases estimated that from September 2, 2024, to January 26, 2025, the country recorded approximately 9.523 million flu cases, based on data released on January 31.
The 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.
In response to the escalating outbreak, health officials have repeatedly urged citizens to adopt preventive measures such as mask-wearing and thorough handwashing.
Adding to the health crisis, Japan is 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 avian influenza outbreaks show no signs of slowing and 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 twin outbreaks have raised concerns among business professionals and investors about potential economic impacts, including supply chain disruptions and increased operational costs.
Academics and researchers are closely monitoring the situation, analyzing the effectiveness of public health responses and the implications for future pandemic preparedness.
For residents and the Asian diaspora, the health crises underscore the importance of community cooperation and adherence to preventive guidelines to mitigate the spread of infections.
— With input from Xinhua
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Panic buying causes drug shortages in Japan amid flu outbreak
cgtn.com
