The influenza epidemic in Japan has placed medical institutions under significant pressure, as the country is facing sharp escalation in flu cases, according to Eiji Kuzumi, a Japanese internist.
Kuzumi said on Thursday that this year's flu outbreak has been aggressive, and the currently prevailing virus strain has caused typical symptoms, including fever and cough, and carried a higher risk of severe illness.
Data from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare showed that a total of 145,526 flu cases were reported in the single week from Nov 10 to 16. As cases continue to mount, both general outpatient clinics and emergency departments are struggling to keep up with medical needs from patients.
"I sometimes work in emergency care, and even young people are very sick with it. Some patients with severe symptoms are sent by ambulances. And for children, they may experience convulsions, and elderly people who cannot care for themselves often require hospitalization. Compared with previous years, there is an increase of emergency visits and hospitalizations due to influenza," Kuzumi said.
He also noted that the supply of antiviral drugs has remained stable, but there has been a shortage of common cold medicines and antibiotics for some time, posing a challenge to effective flu prevention and control.
With the year-end holidays approaching, most medical institutions in Japan are scheduled to suspend operations, which will make the access to medical care more difficult for people.
"The flu epidemic is very severe this year. It will be pretty difficult to see doctors at the end of this year or the start of the next year. For people at high risk of serious illness, vaccines and everyday infection-prevention measures can help reduce the danger. If it's possible to prepare antiviral medicines in advance and take them during this period, that'll be also a good choice," said Kuzumi.
"Our two children and I have been vaccinated. And family members in frequent contact with us have also been vaccinated. We haven't been infected so far, but for children, catching the flu can sometimes lead to illness like encephalitis. If they do get infected, it's still very worrying," said a resident in Tokyo.
Japan's medical system face growing pressure amid flu epidemic
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that mediation efforts of the Pakistani side regarding the Middle East tensions are in the common interests of all parties.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in his talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing.
During their talks, the two sides exchanged views on current international issues and regional conflicts.
Wang welcomed the visit of the Pakistani side to Beijing for discussion on easing tensions in the Middle East, just after its holding of a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad.
He said China supports and looks forward to Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation and resuming peace talks. This process is no easy task, and Pakistan's mediation efforts are in line with the common interests of all parties, Wang added.
He noted China is willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan to end the hostilities as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks.
On bilateral ties, Wang said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, calling on both sides to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and constantly advance the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
For his part, Dar said the Pakistan-China friendship is precious and deeply rooted in people's hearts, adding that Pakistan is willing to work with China to promote the continuous development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Dar thanked China for supporting Pakistan's mediation of the situation in Iran, adding that the current conflict has disrupted international energy supplies and caused heavy damage to developing countries.
Noting that solutions can only be found through negotiation, Dar said Pakistan is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to push all parties to start peace talks as soon as possible and restore regional peace.
The two sides also put forward a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East region:
I. Immediate cessation of hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.
II. Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.
III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law, and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
IV. Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the United Nations, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
