Shop clerks wear face masks at check-out counters at a market in Kobe on Monday.

New flu infections in Japan pass 160

Tuesday 19th May, 02:43 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 90 Total Comments Show All

Himajin at 01:28 PM JST - 19th May

You get a flu shot every year because the virus mutates. Evey year the vaccine is different.

Why do I need to get vaccinated against the flu every year?

Flu viruses change from year to year, which means two things. First, you can get the flu more than once during your lifetime. The immunity (natural protection that develops against a disease after a person has had that disease) that is built up from having the flu caused by one virus strain doesn't always provide protection when a new strain is circulating. Second, a vaccine made against flu viruses circulating last year may not protect against the newer viruses. That is why the influenza vaccine is updated to include current viruses every year.

NOT because you get no immunity from the shot. They said on TV that those who got Influenza A this year would have partial immunity to H1N1 because of the A component.
realist at 01:48 PM JST - 19th May

didnt realise I had entered for a statistics examination. Look - this whole thing is just mass hysteria, verging on the comical. Anyway - we all have to die one day, one way or another. Live a day at a time, enjoy the moment, and lets not spend time worrying about something which has really not affected many people in the world yet at all, compared to other more sinister diseases. Its only the flu, after all!
Himajin at 05:58 PM JST - 19th May

When a new virus appears it's best to be prudent for a while, I see nothing wrong with it. Good practice in case it does mutate and hit the fan totally this fall, although if that does happen I'd expect to see travel bans and other more aggressive measures. It' all very easy to laugh and ridicule when it turns out to be less than expected. With the great number of deaths in the early days in Mexico, caution was warranted.
Bento at 07:04 PM JST - 19th May

I certainly wasn't ridiculing this virus or playing down its dangers,i stated that if young and healthy it would be less dangerous to catch it during the warm weather than later. ..once you have had a virus and have recovered from it you are immune to it in future, as himajin stated(probably after some recent background reading maybe even on the who website)there is an annual flu jab only because the flu viruses mutate constantly ,close scientific monitoring of the likely prevalent strain of flu for the year occurs and then the vaccine is made to combat the spread of this one.They don't just guess or use the same vaccine every year(as tahoochi seems to think) Is wanting to catch it to preserve oneself any less selfish than not wanting it to be passed to your wife in order to preserve her and your child?Should there be any greater efforts made because this is a new virus when the press seem unconcerned by the annual toll of death from 'normal' flu do all those panicking about swine flu also panic annually over normal flu..if so panic away if not well your acting illogically now.
Himajin at 07:47 PM JST - 19th May

probably after some recent background reading maybe even on the who website

I went to the CDC site to get a reference, because no one is going to let go of a mistaken belief without one.After 25 years of editing and rewriting medical papers and the additional background reading required to understand the papers I'm working on, working in a clinic for 15+ years I'm not just spouting off, and if I don't know about something I'll look it up before I post...
Bento at 07:53 PM JST - 19th May

himajin..you appear to think that this swine flu virus will not be a problem in autumn,why do you think that? This swine flu virus may well be a real problem when the weather turns colder again, this is the reason i suggested young and healthy poeple would be better off catching it now while the average humans system has 'more capacity' to fight it. Once contracted and assuming you survive your immune system will then be full of antibodies with the ability to destroy the same virus and any similar (genetically speaking)mutation of that virus..without antibodies you will be susceptible to this, and all mutations of,this virus later ..whether they be less harmful or more harmful. Naturally not contracting any flu virus is best of all..but can you guarantee that you won't..
Himajin at 08:47 PM JST - 19th May

I certainly wasn't ridiculing this virus or playing down its dangers,

I know. My comments about people ridiculing the Japanese government were not directed at you, but all those who on a daily basis moan about how ineffectual Japanese government is, then when they get on the ball, people start on the 'overkill' remarks. The whole point of some people coming to this site seems to be to complain, as one can see by the complaints whatever the government does. I thought it was a rapid response and swifter than the usual sludgy movement we usually see, not a bad response. Well, come to see that the virus isn't so bad, and the bashing begins.

I haven't formed an opinion yet as to this virus' course this fall. No virologist am I...you recommended going out to get it, fine, to each his own I suppose. You inferred that it was the WHOs position that healthy people should share the virus and I knew it was not the case, which is why I sent a few pokes in your direction, humorous ones I hope. Just pulling your leg a bit at what I saw as exaggeration. Will it or won't it? The best minds in virology will determine that.
Bento at 11:39 PM JST - 19th May

i implied no such thing about the who, you inferred it for yourself.I suggested you ask them their opinion directly instead of 'wondering' about it. The fact remains a flu virus contracted in warm weather is less likely to kill you than if that same virus is contracted in winter,all other things being equal,you can infer from this that swine flu is more dangerous in autumn. Your correct , there are indeed many whingers posting here..especially the "Japan is a broken society" variety ,who are particularly annoying especially as half of them appear to have chosen to live in it.
EUgirl at 01:19 AM JST - 20th May

Bento: That is actually an option. If the too strict measures of Japanese gov. plus people wearing masks become a too overbearing hindrance to your well-being, how about going home?
Himajin at 06:25 AM JST - 20th May

bento, I said 'I wonder what the WHO would think of your advice to go out and get the flu' and you told me to call them and 'wonder no more', as if you thought they'd tell me the same thing you were saying. 'call and wonder no more' can't be read in all that many different ways.

who are particularly annoying especially as half of them appear to have chosen to live in it.

Yes, that's always interesting.
grafton at 06:56 AM JST - 20th May

“The fact remains a flu virus contracted in warm weather is less likely to kill you”

Please note that Bento did say “less likely”. What might be important to know is how much less is less?

Bento, I still like your logic but not enough to go out looking to put it to the test. Maybe when you get back from the hospital you can post something about how it all went. I will be waiting, along with Hinajin & Eugirl, for you report.
Bento at 04:58 PM JST - 20th May

eugirl-what is an option?Overbearing hindrance,you have a florid mind where did you get that idea from.Go home?yet another incorrect assumption..i'm English,live in England and have always known where my home is,how about you? himajin-the fact remains i did not imply anything about the whos opinion merely suggested a method by which you could solve your own wonderings,you made the assumptions. grafton-i'm not looking to test the theory either,but if i did i would steer well clear of hospitals.
Himajin at 05:12 PM JST - 20th May

:-)
Bento at 08:52 PM JST - 20th May

:-)
jabongga at 09:56 PM JST - 23rd May

all people hir in japan just dont be careless anywhere u want 2 go just olwys put a mask for your own protection:D