Measles infections increasing in Japan

February 22, 2019

Tokyo--Since the start of 2019, the number of measles patients has been growing in Japan at the fastest pace in the past decade, with the central prefecture of Mie leading the increase.

The National Institute of Infectious Diseases said Tuesday that 167 new measles patients were reported in 20 of the country's 47 prefectures between the start of this year and Feb. 10.

The health ministry has issued a notice calling on medical institutions to take preventive measures against the highly infectious disease.

The institute said Mie saw 49 new measles patients during the period, followed by 47 reported in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, 17 in Aichi Prefecture, neighboring Mie, 11 in Tokyo and six in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo.

According to the Mie prefectural government, of 49 people who participated in a seminar held by a religious group late last year at a facility in Tsu, Mie's capital, 29 have been diagnosed with measles.

Of the 29 patients, 24 came from Mie, three from Gifu, north of Aichi, and one each from Aichi and Wakayama in western Japan. The disease spread to their family members and those who had contact with the infected people at medical institutions and school.

In the city of Osaka, 11 employees at the Abeno Harukas commercial complex of Kintetsu Department Store Co. <8244> and eight customers have been diagnosed with measles.

The Osaka prefectural government said a woman in her 40s infected with measles took a round trip between Tokyo Station and Shin-Osaka Station by Shinkansen bullet train on Feb. 8 and Feb. 10, calling for attention as the disease may have been spread to an unspecified number of people.

After a latent period of some 10 days, the disease causes symptoms including fever, cough and a runny nose, which are followed by skin rashes. While patients normally recover in seven to 10 days after the symptoms appear, some may develop complications such as pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.

Receiving vaccination twice is said to be effective to prevent measles. Over 95 pct of Japanese aged 2 or older have antibodies against the disease, a source said.

A ministry official said a large measles outbreak is unlikely, but called on people to see doctors as soon as suspicious symptoms appear, after informing medical institutions that they suspect they may have measles. Jiji Press