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Flu season in Japan started earlier than usual. On October 3, local media cited Japan’s Health Ministry as saying that the flu outbreak was the country’s second worst in the past 20 years.
Excluding 2023, because flu cases were high throughout that year, the start of the flu season in 2009 was the earliest on record, japan times Informed.
according to time magazineMore than 4,000 people were treated for influenza in Japan between September 22 and September 28, according to health ministry data. The number of patients being treated for influenza increased to more than 6,000 between September 29 and October 5.
“Influenza season has begun,” Japan’s health ministry posted on October 3.
But not just in Japan, countries across Asia have seen an increase in influenza cases. This has led some medical experts to warn that falling sick more easily throughout the year could be the new reality.
flu vs common cold
Seasonal influenza (flu) is an infection caused by any of four types of influenza viruses A, B, C, and D, with influenza A and B causing the most common seasonal outbreaks in humans.
Symptoms of influenza include high fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue.
The flu and the common cold have many similar symptoms. However, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the common cold can be caused by several different viruses, including rhinovirus.
Influenza Virus vs. Seasonal Influenza (Flu) Virus
Specifically, influenza viruses are the broader category of all viruses that cause flu, while ‘seasonal influenza (flu) viruses’ specifically refer to those strains (primarily A and B) that cause annual, predictable outbreaks, often in winter.
When are flu/influenza cases higher?
According to Singapore’s Communicable Disease Agency, cases of influenza usually peak between December and March and higher between May and August.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) says that in temperate climates, seasonal epidemics occur mainly during the winter, while in tropical regions, influenza can occur throughout the year, making outbreaks more irregular.
In the United States, between 1982–1983 and 2023–2024, flu activity most often peaked in February (17 seasons), followed by December (7 seasons), January (6 seasons), and March (6 seasons).
Is flu becoming the new normal?
“The flu season has started really early this year, but in the changing global environment, this may become a more common scenario,” Yoko Tsukamoto, a professor at Hokkaido University of Health Sciences, was quoted by the South China Morning Post as saying.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kimberly Forness, associate professor at the National University of Singapore’s School of Public Health, told TIME that “clear seasonal patterns have been described for influenza in non-tropical regions”, with cooler temperatures generally resulting in a higher incidence of flu cases.
Furthermore, molecular biologist and science journalist Kai Kupferschmidt suggested science magazine Influenza pandemics may become less severe as the planet warms, but outbreaks may become more common rather than dependent on weather.
“As epidemics become less severe in warmer climates, the virus is more likely to spread year-round in many places,” Kupferschmidt wrote.
Why are there more cases of influenza these days?
Experts have warned that this virus may developing rapidly And spreading more easily Or earlier than normal in some areas. Furthermore, early and rapid proliferation shows influenza virus is adapting At unprecedented speed.
Emerging research indicates that the virus is not only spreading more efficiently but may also spread develop resistance For traditional treatment.
Tsukamoto told This Week in Asia that these changes could help explain why Japan is experiencing its second-largest flu outbreak in two decades.
“We are seeing this resistance in Japan, but it is also being reported in other parts of the world,” he said.
Scientists and experts also point to a “confluence of factors” behind the surge. mass tourism This may be one of the reasons that has accelerated the movement of people and viruses across borders in the post-pandemic era.
“We are seeing a huge spread of people in Japan and globally, people carrying the virus to new places, which is another factor behind the virus adapting to new environments,” Tsukamoto said.
Additionally, “influenza may spread more easily among people spend most of their time indoors During the winter,” Dr. Kimberly Forness told TIME.
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