The number of 'Mycoplasma pneumonia' cases in Japan continues to rise

Tokyo —  Japanese local media reported that the number of mycoplasma pneumonia cases, a respiratory illness caused by a bacterial infection, has been rising sharply in Japan, reaching record-high levels for four consecutive weeks as of October 20.

Citing data from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) in Japan, the media reported that the average number of cases per week reported by approximately 500 medical institutions nationwide was 2.01 cases per institution for the week ending October 20. This marked the first time the number exceeded 2 cases, with the weekly case count reaching the highest level since data collection began in 1999.

Before this recent surge, Japan's highest weekly average number of cases was 1.64 in October 2016.

Mycoplasma pneumonia is a bacterial infection in the respiratory system that spreads through airborne droplets from coughing and sneezing, causing symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, and headache. Children are more susceptible to the infection than the general population, with reports indicating that over 80% of the patients are aged 14 or younger.

Source:
    Xinhua
    Pneumonia Symptoms.