Society

Tokyo witnesses unprecedented rise in streptococcal infections, hits alert threshold

TOKYO, Dec 21 (News On Japan) - Tokyo is currently facing an unprecedented surge in streptocococcal infections, marking the first instance since record-keeping commenced in 1999 that these infections have escalated to an alert level.

As per the latest reports from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, there has been a notable increase in cases of Group A Streptococcal pharyngitis. The figures indicate an average of 6.05 cases per medical facility over the past week. This spike in streptococcal infections has prompted authorities to declare an alert status, a move not seen since the commencement of systematic record-keeping over two decades ago.

In addition to the rise in streptococcal infections, Tokyo's healthcare system is also grappling with an uptick in influenza cases. The recent data shows an increase of 0.27 patients per medical institution compared to the previous week, marking this as the second-highest rate recorded this season. Concurrently, the capital is also witnessing a steady increase in COVID-19 cases, with an average of 2.58 new infections per medical establishment, marking a continuous rise over four weeks.

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

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