ID :
84717
Fri, 10/16/2009 - 01:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/84717
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8,047 new-flu group infections reported in week, highest since late July
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TOKYO, Oct. 15 Kyodo -
A total of 8,047 group infections involving the new influenza virus were
reported at schools as well as welfare and medical facilities in Japan in the
week through last Sunday, marking the highest weekly figure since late July
when the health ministry started collecting the data.
The figure marked a 1.5-fold increase from the previous week when 5,432 group
infections were reported, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said while
warning that deaths among the young have begun to increase.
The ministry is now urging people across the country, including local
government officials and medical staff, to be on the alert for cases involving
children and teens after four died of the new flu from Tuesday through
Thursday.
The cases involved three children aged 4, 5 and 8, and a 16-year-old male high
school student. The 4-year-old boy is the youngest victim so far in Japan since
the first death linked to the new flu was reported in the country in
mid-August.
As of Thursday, 27 deaths have been reported, including seven of people aged
under 20, according to the ministry.
''We thought it inevitable that deaths among young people would occur with the
spread of the flu,'' a ministry official said. ''We have started seeing
children with no underlying conditions getting a (flu-related) brain fever.''
Local authorities are now preparing for the start of vaccinations next week
that will give priority to health professionals, followed by pregnant women,
patients with underlining illnesses, and children ranging from 1 year old to
third graders at elementary school.
In the ministry's latest report, Tokyo recorded the highest number of group
infections with 1,371, ahead of 865 in Chiba Prefecture and 784 in Kanagawa
Prefecture.
During the one-week period, a total of 4,307 schools and welfare facilities
were temporarily closed at the request of local authorities, around 1.8 times
more than the previous week's figure of 2,413.
==Kyodo
2009-10-15 23:35:42
TOKYO, Oct. 15 Kyodo -
A total of 8,047 group infections involving the new influenza virus were
reported at schools as well as welfare and medical facilities in Japan in the
week through last Sunday, marking the highest weekly figure since late July
when the health ministry started collecting the data.
The figure marked a 1.5-fold increase from the previous week when 5,432 group
infections were reported, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said while
warning that deaths among the young have begun to increase.
The ministry is now urging people across the country, including local
government officials and medical staff, to be on the alert for cases involving
children and teens after four died of the new flu from Tuesday through
Thursday.
The cases involved three children aged 4, 5 and 8, and a 16-year-old male high
school student. The 4-year-old boy is the youngest victim so far in Japan since
the first death linked to the new flu was reported in the country in
mid-August.
As of Thursday, 27 deaths have been reported, including seven of people aged
under 20, according to the ministry.
''We thought it inevitable that deaths among young people would occur with the
spread of the flu,'' a ministry official said. ''We have started seeing
children with no underlying conditions getting a (flu-related) brain fever.''
Local authorities are now preparing for the start of vaccinations next week
that will give priority to health professionals, followed by pregnant women,
patients with underlining illnesses, and children ranging from 1 year old to
third graders at elementary school.
In the ministry's latest report, Tokyo recorded the highest number of group
infections with 1,371, ahead of 865 in Chiba Prefecture and 784 in Kanagawa
Prefecture.
During the one-week period, a total of 4,307 schools and welfare facilities
were temporarily closed at the request of local authorities, around 1.8 times
more than the previous week's figure of 2,413.
==Kyodo
2009-10-15 23:35:42
