Japan in big trouble, declares nationwide epidemic; schools colleges, markets cl

Japan has declared a nationwide epidemic after an unprecedented surge in cases of influenza. The decision came after medical experts warned that the virus may be evolving faster and spreading more easily than before. The outbreak has led to hospitals filling up and schools, colleges and markets closing across the country.

The flu season arrived early, five weeks before, as compared to last year. Yoko Tsukamoto, a professor at the Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, told the South China Morning Post, “in the changing global environment, this might become a more common scenario.”