Is there a new pandemic lingering over us? Is Japan at the brink of declaring a health epidemic? After the COVID-19 pandemic, this question has been looming over everyone for a while now. However, it is an undeniable fact that with climate change, illness are now staying all round the year, talking about the COVID-19 virus specifically, it too has now become a seasonal-like virus. However amid this, Japan has declared a nationwide flu outbreak, which has a high rise in hospitalization, school closures and has left public healthcare system under a lot of pressure.What Is Happening In Japan?As per the media reports in Japan, the Health Ministry has confirmed the national average has surpassed the epidemic threshold reaching 1.04 patients per medical institution. Typically, Japan's flu season is in late November or December, however, this year, it seems to have arrived sooner. The Health Ministry also noted on October 3 that more than 4,000 people have been hospitalized with influenza and that there was a four-fold increase seen in Japan in the previous week. As of now, 28 of the 47 prefectures in Japan has reporting rise in cases, especially in Tokyo, Okinawa and Kagoshima. It has forced over 130 schools and childcare centers to close. Okinawa reported the highest numbers.Read: Covid, Cold, Or Flu: How To Differentiate Between These Infections?Is The Flu Happening Only In Japan?Similar trends have been reported in Singapore, Thailand, and India. In northern India, the H3N2 strain—descended from the 1968 Hong Kong flu virus, has been spreading, while Thailand recorded more than half a million flu cases this year with 59 deaths. Singapore also saw a steady rise in flu and respiratory infections as inter-monsoon rains forced people indoors.Climate Change Could Lead To Virus' New VariantExperts suggest that changes in weather patterns, global travel, and evolving viral strains could be contributing to these early and frequent outbreaks. Warmer climates and extreme weather may be influencing how and when flu viruses spread, with studies hinting that heavy rainfall and higher humidity could drive people indoors, creating ideal conditions for transmission. Climate change could also affect virus survival and migration patterns of wild birds, further influencing outbreaks.The World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest vaccine guidelines for the Southern Hemisphere introduced new H1N1 and H3N2 strains, indicating that mutated versions are circulating. Experts are particularly monitoring subtypes like H5, H7, and H9 in animals, as new strains could potentially trigger another pandemic similar to the 1957 H2N2 “Asian Flu.” The recent detection of bird flu strains in mammals has raised further concerns about possible cross-species mutations.While there’s no evidence that influenza viruses are mutating faster than before, experts agree the virus continues to evolve in ways that challenge immunity from previous infections or vaccines. Regular flu vaccination remains the best defense, especially for the elderly and vulnerable. Experts also stress the need for better awareness, improved hygiene practices, and policies that discourage working while sick. A universal flu vaccine that covers multiple strains could offer a long-term solution—but it’s still in development.
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