Mycoplasma pneumonia epidemic accelerated in Japan

In the week of Sept. 23-29, 788 cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia were reported at nearly 500 designated health care facilities across Japan, with an average of 1.64 cases reported per facility, 41 times more than in the same period last year and five consecutive weeks of month-on-month increases, the data show.

According to data released by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan on Tuesday (October 8), the average number of mycoplasma pneumonia cases reported by designated medical institutions across Japan has increased by more than 10% over the previous week, Xinhua reported. A total of 788 cases were reported, which was the joint highest number of cases reported weekly since the current statistical method was adopted in 1999. A total of 8,714 cases have been reported in 2024.

According to reports, mycoplasma pneumonia is high in autumn and winter, and Japanese experts are worried that the epidemic will expand. Japan's health ministry on Tuesday asked local health departments to be on the lookout for mycoplasma pneumonia, reminding people to take measures such as frequent hand-washing and coughing etiquette.