Flu Outbreaks To Pneumonia Increase In Japan, Health Experts Advise Tourists For Vaccines

Illustration of the vaccine (Pexels/Gustavo Fring)

JAKARTA - The flu outbreak that led to pneumonia in Japan is increasing and drawing attention after Taiwan actress Barbie Hsu died as a result of this. This condition is very serious and has caught the attention of health experts.

Like health experts in Hong Kong who immediately recommend that tourists who want to travel to areas that are experiencing a surge in flu cases, should inject influenza vaccines. For the vaccine, at least two weeks before departure.

Vaccines are carried out so that antibodies to deal with the virus can develop. This prevents a person from contracting the flu and minimizes the symptoms he faces when infected.

Not only that, health experts also recommend that tourists always wear masks in crowded areas. Then hand hygiene, storing local emergency contacts, and buying travel insurance.

However, tourists with chronic health conditions are advised to postpone travel to areas where flu cases are experiencing a surge. This is because people with chronic health conditions can experience more severe symptoms, even ending in death if infected.

"High-risk patients should consider delaying their journey if tourist destinations are facing a serious influenza outbreak," said Dr. Leung Chi-chiu, a respiratory medicine specialist, quoted from VN Express, on Friday, February 7, 2025.

Meanwhile, Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases estimates that from September 2, 2024 to January 26, 2025, there were around 9.52 million flu cases recorded. The last week of December 2024 was the peak of weekly flu cases in Japan.

It was recorded that around 317,812 patients were reported, of which this number exceeded the government's warning threshold. This number has also been the highest since Japan's flu case recording began in 1999.