Officials of the Tokyo metropolitan government have announced that the influenza season has officially begun, earlier than usual. The last time the flu season was confirmed in November was in 2014.

According to health officials, the 419 hospitals in the city reported that the average number of flu patients per hospital from November 13 to 20 was 1.57, Fuji TV reported Friday. The health ministry sets 1.00 as the official standard average, and the start of the flu season can be declared as soon as the average number of cases reported rises above the standard.

Citizens are being advised to thoroughly wash their hands, gargle and take other preventive measures against colds and the flu.

© Japan Today