Flu season has hit much earlier for 2025

If you've noticed the seasonal return of coughs and sniffles seeming much earlier this year, you're probably not imagining it. According to an article I saw this morning, flu season kicked off in late September, with health authorities reporting a sharp rise in cases nationwide. Okinawa, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama have been among the hardest hit, and doctors say the early surge has partly been fueled by cross-border travel.

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After years of strict COVID-19 precautions, apparently our collective immunity to influenza has weakened. Professor Atsuo Hamada of Tokyo Medical University mentioned in the article above that with fewer flu outbreaks during the pandemic years, many people simply haven't been exposed to the virus in a long time. Add to that packed tourist spots and lingering summer heat keeping people indoors with the air conditioning on, and you've got the perfect conditions (petri-dish-esque) for the flu to spread.

I think it's a reminder that while the post-pandemic tourism boom is great for the economy, it can come with some unwelcome surprises. For those of us living here (especially with schools and workplaces back in full swing), it's a good reminder to roll up our sleeves and get vaccinated.