Tokyo, Oct. 9 (Jiji Press)–The average number of new influenza cases per regularly monitored medical institution in Japan stood at 11.35 in the week through Sunday, exceeding the alert level of 10, the health ministry said Friday. The figure, based on reports from about 3,000 such medical institutions nationwide, surpassed the level indicating the possibility of an outbreak within four weeks, reaching the threshold about a month earlier than last year. Among the country’s 47 prefectures, Okinawa posted the highest figure, at 37.07, above the warning level of 30. The Tokyo metropolitan area also reported high numbers, with Saitama at 19.66, Chiba at 18.72, Kanagawa at 18.51 and Tokyo at 15.87. Sixteen prefectures reported numbers exceeding 10, including Kumamoto, which was hit by a powerful earthquake in July and recorded 10.20. In education, 937 kindergartens, nursery schools, elementary, junior high and high schools across the country were either partially or fully closed due to infections. Japan entered the flu season during the week of Aug. 17-23, when the number of patients per institution topped one, marking the country’s second-earliest start to a flu season on record. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
