"Coughing Until Vomiting" Sweeps Japan… Unexpected Reason for Major Outbreak

[Anchor]

In Japan, a flu epidemic has started more than a month earlier than usual and is spreading at an alarming rate. Experts point to a surge in tourists driven by persistent rain and a weak yen as contributing factors.

Mun Junmo reports from Tokyo.

[Reporter]

The waiting room of a hospital in Tokyo is packed with flu patients starting from the morning.

[Flu Patient : I cough so badly at night that I can barely sleep.]

[Doctor : Is the coughing so severe that it makes you vomit? (Yes.)]

During the week leading up to the 20th, the number of flu patients reached 31,428, marking the 13th consecutive week of increase. The upward trend has become even steeper this month.

This pace is more than a month faster than last year.

[Tokyo Citizen : My daughter has Type A flu right now. This is the first time since she was born that the flu has broken out at this time of year.]

A total of 1,060 schools and kindergartens have implemented temporary closures or class suspensions, and regular vaccinations, which are usually administered every October, have been moved up.

[Middle School Student : Other classes were shut down because of the flu, so I was scared, but now I feel relieved after getting the vaccination.]

One of the reasons cited in Japan for the early flu outbreak is the increase in tourists due to the weak yen.

The theory is that a massive influx of tourists from Southeast and East Asia, where the flu had already been circulating early, helped spread the same strain of the influenza virus.

Among the tourists who visited Japan in July and August, 4.95 million, or 75%, came from Southeast and East Asia.

Analysts also suggest that increased indoor activities due to persistent rain have played a role.

[Medical Specialist : Due to the rainy season, heavy downpours, and large temperature fluctuations, people are spending more time indoors. When one person gets infected, droplet transmission easily occurs at home, in classrooms, or in offices.]

In Tokyo, it has rained for a record-breaking 35 consecutive days through today (the 30th). Early-formed autumn rain fronts have lingered after being supplied with moisture from five typhoons since late August.

Experts emphasize that the number of flu patients will rapidly increase through November, urging people to get vaccinated promptly.

(Camera Reporter: Han Chul-min, Mun Hyun-jin | Video Editor: Won Hyung-hee | Designer: Yang Ki-tae)