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Health officials in Tokyo say the number of people infected with influenza has reached a new record high, NHK reports.

The officials say the average number of flu patients at 415 medical institutions in the Japanese capital in the week through Sunday stood at 64.18, up more than 10 from a week earlier.

It is the highest average figure since record taking began in 1999 and above the previous record of 54.1 set in January last year.

The officials say that about 70 percent of the cases were found to be infected with the H1N1 strain, which caused a global outbreak of a new influenza a decade ago.

The metropolitan government issued a warning of influenza outbreak on January 17th.

Officials are urging people to take preventive measures such as washing hands.

Prefectures around Tokyo have also reported record numbers of flu patients.

In Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo, the average number of patients per hospital reached 84.09 and in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, 73.

One hospital in Tochigi Prefecture had 67 patients on average and another in Kanagawa Prefecture 67.94.

All the figures have set new records since 20 years ago.