{
  "id": 8161062,
  "title": "Tokyo influenza cases top advisory threshold, tie earliest mark",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/tokyo-influenza-cases-top-advisory-threshold-tie-earliest-mark",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-18T03:09:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260918/p2a/00m/0li/007000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tokyo has reported its earliest occurrence of exceeding the influenza advisory threshold, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The announcement came on September 17, 2023, as the number of influenza cases reported by designated medical institutions surpassed the advisory level. This marked the sixth time the threshold was exceeded earlier in the year, with the previous record set six weeks later in 2022. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Public Health revealed that 14 out of the 31 public health center jurisdictions in the capital had reached advisory levels. Children aged 9 and under accounted for a substantial 50.49% of the reported cases, with elementary school students being particularly affected. The city of Machida had the highest number of cases at 17.31 cases per designated medical institution, followed by Arakawa Ward with 13.71 cases, Kita Ward with 13.45, and Koto Ward with 13.43. As the holiday season is expected to bring increased travel and social contact, health officials are cautioning residents to take necessary precautions against the spread of infections. These measures include frequent handwashing, disinfection, and wearing masks, especially in crowded places.",
  "summary": "TOKYO -- The number of influenza cases reported by designated medical institutions in the capital has surpassed the threshold for an influenza advisor",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}