With summer almost upon us, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases has warned that this year could see the worst outbreak in a decade of ‘pool fever’, a virus that generally strikes young children who swim in public pools. Early reports claim that the number affected could be 10 times greater than in 2004, resulting in officials urging people to wash their hands, gargle and not share towels.
Yet despite such suggestions, the authorities remain unclear as to why Japan is so susceptible to this particular virus,
although research is still ongoing.