Japan records over 10,000 syphilis cases

Sep 17, 2023 | News On Japan

TOKYO - The number of syphilis cases reported in Japan this year has exceeded 10,000. This is the fastest rate of increase seen since comparable data became available in 1999.

Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases said 10,110 cases had been reported as of September 3. That is about 1.24 times the number reported during the same period last year, which was a record high.

If the current pace of increase continues, the number of cases may reach a record high for the third year in a row.

Many cases were reported in urban areas. By prefecture, Tokyo recorded 2,490 cases, and Osaka had 1,365 cases. The number of infections also spiked in the prefectures of Saga, Nagasaki and Ishikawa.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection transmitted mainly through sexual contact. It is curable, but if the infection is not treated, it can cause serious problems in the brain or heart. If pregnant women are infected, their babies could be born with abnormalities.

An expert on sexually transmitted diseases says people who believe they may be infected should get tested, even if they do not have any symptoms.

Martinelli Breaks Japan Hearts as Brazil Win 2-1 in World Cup Thriller

Japan’s World Cup campaign ended in the cruelest possible fashion on June 29, as Gabriel Martinelli scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over the Samurai Blue in their knockout match in Houston. Japan had led in the first half and were still level at 1-1 in the final moments, but Martinelli’s late strike sent Brazil into the Round of 16 and eliminated Japan from the tournament.

Strong Quakes Strike Japan 11 Times Since April

Strong earthquakes have continued to shake parts of Japan in recent weeks, with 11 temblors measuring lower 5 or above on the Japanese seismic intensity scale recorded across the country since April 2026.

First Train of the Day Derails at Kintetsu Kyoto Station

A Kintetsu Railway train derailed inside Kyoto Station on the morning of June 29, forcing partial suspensions on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line for the rest of the day and causing long delays that hit commuters, students and tourists.

Hikone Castle Stone Wall Collapses After Typhoon Deluge

A section of stone wall at Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few surviving original Edo-period castles and a National Treasure whose main keep remains intact more than 400 years after its construction, collapsed after heavy rain caused by Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8, Hikone city officials said.

Japan Books Spot in World Cup Knockout Stage After Sweden Draw

Japan advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Sweden on June 25, finishing second in Group F and setting up a Round of 32 clash with Brazil in Houston.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Japan to Launch First Pig Kidney Transplant Trial in Humans

Japan is set to begin its first clinical trial of xenotransplantation involving the transplant of pig kidneys into human patients, in a step that could open a new option for people with kidney failure.

First Approval for Heart Tissue Reuse in Japan

A new treatment that uses healthy tissue from the heart removed from a transplant patient and transplants it into another patient has been approved in Japan for the first time, with the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center preparing to carry out the procedure.

Four Key Dsip Peptide Benefits That Enhance Recovery

For those involved in medical research and biostatistics, understanding the intricacies of recovery processes is crucial.

Rare Look Inside Japan's Underground Gravity Wave Observatory

The KAGRA gravitational-wave research facility in Kamioka, Hida, Gifu Prefecture, was opened to the public on June 20 for the first special viewing in nine years, giving 200 visitors a rare chance to tour the underground observatory with Nobel laureate Takaaki Kajita.

Risk Of Major Mosquito Outbreak This Summer

Mosquitoes are appearing earlier than usual this year, raising fears of a major summer outbreak as experts warn that warm May weather and repeated light rain have created ideal breeding conditions across residential areas.

Fukuoka on Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease Alert

New cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in Fukuoka Prefecture remained at alert level for the third consecutive week, prompting the prefectural government to urge residents to take preventive measures against the infection, which spreads through droplets and physical contact.

New Opportunities in Specialized Light

A Japanese startup is seeking to transform manufacturing inspections with a world-first lighting technology that eliminates reflected light, making previously hidden defects, contaminants, and irregularities visible to the human eye.

4 Ways Japanese Tech is More Advanced Than Other Nations

You likely interact with Japanese innovation daily without realizing it. Walk through any modern facility, and you encounter systems where hardware and software fuse flawlessly.

< 2 3 4 5 >