Mycoplasma Pneumonia Cases Surge in Japan
Mycoplasma pneumonia, a respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is experiencing a significant increase in cases across Japan. This surge follows six consecutive weeks of rising infection rates, with the highest weekly total recorded since the current reporting method was introduced in 1999.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases reports an average of 1.94 Mycoplasma pneumonia patients per medical institution nationwide, with Fukui prefecture having the highest average of 4.83 cases per institution. Other prefectures with high case numbers include Aichi, Aomori, Osaka, Saitama, Ibaraki, Tokyo, Kochi, Hyogo, and Hiroshima.
The infection spreads through droplets released into the air by sneezing and coughing, causing symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, and persistent coughing. While mild cases may resolve on their own, severe cases can lead to pneumonia requiring hospitalization and, in rare instances, complications like encephalitis.
Antibiotics can effectively treat Mycoplasma pneumonia, but the incubation period of two to three weeks can delay symptom onset, making it difficult to identify the source of infection.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Mycoplasma pneumonia cases remained low due to increased hygiene practices and reduced social interaction. However, the current surge highlights the need for continued vigilance and adherence to infection prevention measures such as handwashing and mask-wearing.