The central government decided Wednesday to urge local governments to take measures to reduce the risk of flu-linked accidents, after at least 54 events involving people with flu — mostly children — were reported last season across the nation.
The adverse incidents, including fatalities due to falls, were reported among children who had taken influenza medicines. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will instruct local governments to take preventive measures against possible abnormal behavior by making sure windows and doors are securely locked when influenza patients are nearby.
According to the ministry, the kinds of adverse events that were reported could occur regardless of the types of medicines and regardless of whether people take them or not. "We hope they will thoroughly implement measures and prevent accidents," an official of the ministry said.