Filipino tourists warned of rising flu cases in Japan after Barbie Hsu's death

By Hoang Vu February 9, 2025 | 06:54 pm PT

Visitors walk along Nakamise-dori Street as they visit Sensoji temple in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 9, 2024. Photo by Reuters

Filipinos traveling to Japan are advised to secure travel insurance in case of medical emergency and wear face masks in crowded places as influenza cases continue to rise, especially following the death of high-profile actress Barbie Hsu.

The Philippine Embassy in Japan urged Filipino tourists to stay updated with public health advisories, and remain indoors if feeling unwell or experiencing cold symptoms, Cebu Daily News reported.

Data from the Japan National Tourism Organization showed that 818,700 Filipinos visited Japan in 2024, marking a 31.6% increase from the previous year and setting a record high for the second consecutive year.

Hsu, 49, widely known as Big S and a beloved actress across East and Southeast Asia, died Feb. 2 from influenza-related pneumonia during a family trip to Japan for the Lunar New Year holidays.

Her death prompted health experts in Thailand and Hong Kong to advise their nationals to reconsider travel plans to Japan.

According to the Associated Press, Japan is experiencing its largest flu outbreak in 25 years.

Data from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases shows approximately 9.52 million flu cases were recorded between Sept. 2, 2024, and Jan. 26, 2025.