Japan is grappling with its most severe influenza outbreak since 1999, with over 317,812 cases recorded during the final week of December 2024. This marks a dramatic increase compared to the 104,612 cases reported during the same period in 2023, according to the country’s health ministry.
The outbreak has surpassed all previous weekly records since data collection began 25 years ago. Seasonal influenza typically spikes in winter, but this year’s surge has been notably severe.
Japan is not alone in facing a flu crisis. Other countries, including France, Britain, and Australia, have also reported significant increases in flu cases recently. In 2024, Australia logged over 350,000 confirmed flu cases, breaking its previous record of 313,615 cases set in 2019.
Health officials are closely monitoring the situation and urging citizens to adopt preventive measures, including vaccination and heightened hygiene practices, to mitigate the impact of the outbreak.
