Asia Pacific Daily Dan Wei
According to NHK, cases of transmissible gastroenteritis caused by norovirus and other viruses have increased in Japan for five consecutive weeks.
The Japan Health Insurance Research Institute analyzed reports from about 2,000 pediatric medical institutions across the country. According to NHK, the number of patients per clinic was 9.48 in the week ending February 8, a slight increase from the previous week.
Food poisoning incidents have occurred continuously in many areas such as Aomori Prefecture and Nara Prefecture, causing patients to suffer symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Health authorities determined that most of these food poisoning incidents were caused by norovirus.
According to local media reports on February 16, 47 people who dined at a hotel in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, developed symptoms of food poisoning after detecting norovirus.
The affected people developed symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea after dining at the Towagandaso Hotel in Towada City, Kyodo News reported, citing the prefectural government.
The facility suspended operations for five days after norovirus was detected in fecal samples collected from guests and kitchen staff.
According to local media reports, the Nara Prefectural Government announced on February 11 that 10 guests aged 9 to over 70 developed symptoms such as vomiting and fever after eating barbecue and other dishes at the Pingan Restaurant in Koshiba City, the prefecture.
The investigation found norovirus among affected individuals and restaurant staff. The prefecture's Kashihara City Nakawa Health Center ordered the restaurant to suspend operations for three days.
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said wiping floors and other places with sodium hypochlorite and soaking clothes in hot water of 85 degrees Celsius or higher for more than one minute can effectively prevent the spread of infection.
Since last winter, collective food poisoning incidents have occurred frequently in Japan. Toyama, Okayama and Gifu prefectures have successively issued food poisoning "attention" alerts, calling on the public to take preventive measures.
