Health authorities in Japan are urging people to take precautions against influenza. They say cases nationwide have surged by about 50 percent in the space of a week.
The Japan Institute for Health Security and others say there were 9,074 cases reported by more than 3,000 medical institutions nationwide in the seven days through last Sunday.
The average number of patients per institution was 2.36, up 0.8 from a week earlier. The figure rose in 44 of the country's 47 prefectures.
The health ministry is calling on people to take precautions such as washing hands and wearing masks, and to consider getting vaccinated.

Quiz 1:
How many cases of influenza were reported in Japan by more than 3,000 medical institutions in the seven days through last Sunday?
A. 8,500
B. 9,074 (Correct answer)
C. 9,500
D. 10,000

Quiz 2:
What is the average number of patients per institution that has increased from a week earlier?
A. 2.26
B. 2.3 (Correct answer)
C. 2.4
D. 2.56

Quiz 3:
In which regions did the number of influenza cases rise in the past week?
A. 39 prefectures (This includes Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya) (Correct answer)
B. 40 prefectures
C. 41 prefectures
D. 42 prefectures

[Answer block]
Answers:
Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2: B
Quiz 3: A