Only three influenza patients were reported in the week from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6, less than one-thousandth of the level in the same period last year, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
The first report on the number of flu patients for this season was compiled from about 5,000 medical institutions across the country. The decline is believed to have been the result of people becoming more aware of hygiene due to the spread of the coronavirus and taking measures such as sanitizing hands more often and wearing masks, a ministry official said.
According to the ministry, one case each was reported in Gifu, Osaka and Okinawa prefectures. During the same period last year, there were 3,813 cases, partly because of an outbreak in Okinawa Prefecture. Typically, hundreds of cases are reported in early September.
The number of flu patients usually peaks between January and February. "The measures against the new virus are effective for influenza as well, so please continue the efforts," the ministry official said.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
