It's That Season Again: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Japan

The National Institute of Infectious Diseases bared a surveillance October 20 on the eruption of infectious diseases in the period October 5-11 and reported that over 50,000 have been affected by respiratory syncytial virus infection from last year end till today.

Respiratory syncytial virus infection is a respiratory infection caused by RS virus and shows various symptoms. Half of the children up to age one and all of the children up to age two inflict it through droplet and contact.

As of October 5-11 (41st week) a total of 3,696 were reported to have inflicted respiratory syncytial virus infection. In the previous weeks, 39-41, the numbers rose from 1,997 to 2,643, indicating that the number of patients is increasing.

In Tokyo, a total of 209 RS infection patients reported in week 39, 303 in week 40 and then 398 in week 41 - the number of patients doubled in two weeks. Osaka was the second with 266 followed by Kanazawa 187, Hokkaido 159, and Saitama 158. Okinawa is the fewest with just 4 patients having inflicted, followed by Yamanashi 6, Wakayama 10 and Ibaraki 16.

The cumulative number of the RS patients including week 41 aggregates 52,756 and passed the 50 thousand line earlier than last year. Infection is spreading nationwide that much farther out.

The National Institute of Infectious Diseases reports earlier symptoms show in temperature and runny nose in upper respiratory tract, and then bronchitis and pneumonia in upper tract. Newborn babies, infants under 6 months and immunity‐deficient persons are most susceptible.

The institute also reports there is no specific medicine for respiratory syncytial virus infection except for symptomatic treatment to relax symptoms.

The RS virus forecast says RS infection will travel from south up to north as per every year.