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Growing number of early teens in Japan hit by H1N1 influenza+
Sep 28 08:34 PM US/Eastern
TOKYO, Sept. 29 (AP) - (Kyodo)?
An analysis of H1N1 influenza cases reported to healthcare institutions in Japan showed that those in their early teens have been catching the flu in increasing numbers since schools and nurseries reopened after the summer break, a government institute said Tuesday.
A researcher at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases said the flu may be in the initial stage of a domestic outbreak, citing patterns for seasonal influenzas that typically hit specific regions and age groups in the early stage.
In the period from July 6 to Sept. 20, about 70 percent of the flu patients reported by around 5,000 institutions throughout the nation were aged 5 to 19. A breakdown showed those aged 5-9 formed around 24 percent, 10-14 about 28 percent and 15-19 some 16 percent.
In the week up to Sept. 20 alone, those aged 10 to 14 accounted for a sharply increased 40 percent of all patients, according to the institute.
By region, reported cases in Okinawa Prefecture have been on the decline but infections have been growing in metropolitan areas including Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka, in addition to Hokkaido and Miyagi prefectures.
Yoshinori Yasui, a researcher at the institute, said, "A typical seasonal influenza first shows a rise in infections among some regions and age groups and then spreads to surrounding areas and other age brackets. (The new flu) is still in the initial stage of a domestic outbreak currently and has the full potential of evolving into a major outbreak in the future."
Sep 28 08:34 PM US/Eastern
TOKYO, Sept. 29 (AP) - (Kyodo)?
An analysis of H1N1 influenza cases reported to healthcare institutions in Japan showed that those in their early teens have been catching the flu in increasing numbers since schools and nurseries reopened after the summer break, a government institute said Tuesday.
A researcher at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases said the flu may be in the initial stage of a domestic outbreak, citing patterns for seasonal influenzas that typically hit specific regions and age groups in the early stage.
In the period from July 6 to Sept. 20, about 70 percent of the flu patients reported by around 5,000 institutions throughout the nation were aged 5 to 19. A breakdown showed those aged 5-9 formed around 24 percent, 10-14 about 28 percent and 15-19 some 16 percent.
In the week up to Sept. 20 alone, those aged 10 to 14 accounted for a sharply increased 40 percent of all patients, according to the institute.
By region, reported cases in Okinawa Prefecture have been on the decline but infections have been growing in metropolitan areas including Tokyo, Aichi, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka, in addition to Hokkaido and Miyagi prefectures.
Yoshinori Yasui, a researcher at the institute, said, "A typical seasonal influenza first shows a rise in infections among some regions and age groups and then spreads to surrounding areas and other age brackets. (The new flu) is still in the initial stage of a domestic outbreak currently and has the full potential of evolving into a major outbreak in the future."
