Doctors Wednesday reported a growing number of stress-related illnesses among people in a resort city southwest of Tokyo that has been jolted by thousands of tremors and several volcanic eruptions in the past two weeks. ``We've had an increasing number of patients complaining of insomnia and gastritis due to stress and fear of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions,'' said Mikio Kakefu, director of the National Hospital in Ito City. Ito, a coastal resort city on the Izu peninsula, about 60 miles southwest of Tokyo, has had more than 23,000 temblors, including 486 strong enough to be felt, since June 30. On July 13, an undersea volcano erupted off the Ito coast, creating a mound 82 feet high, according to the Maritime Safety Agency, Japan's coast guard. Volcanic activity has slowed since then, and no strong earthquakes have been recorded since Sunday. No injuries or damages were reported after the eruption. But the Central Meteorological Agency has warned the volcano is likely to erupt again because the movement of magma, or molten rock, continues. Kakefu said the hospital, which has an average of 250 outpatients daily, Monday began receiving more patients with stomach aches, insomnia and diarrhea, ``all from fear and stress.'' ``They didn't feel sick for a couple of days after the eruption because they were still tense,'' he said. Kakefu said he does not have any statistics, but indicated the number of such patients is likely to increase. Pets have also been developing similar symptoms since shortly after the eruption, said Masaaki Mochizuki, an Ito veterinarian. He said he has examined 129 cats and dogs suffering the ``earthquake syndrome'' between July 4 and July 14. Symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and loss of appetite were frequent among cats, and many dogs suffered skin problems including rashes and hair loss, he said. He said some dogs were also afflicted with coughing and trembling due to excessive fear. ``My busiest day was July 14, the day after the eruption,'' Mochizuki said. ``Symptoms in animals appeared earlier than in people because animals are more sensitive, and they feel the temblors and noises more strongly.'' ``We humans have information from the municipal office and the meteorological centers, which help to relieve our tensions ... but such things don't work for animals,'' he said.
An undersea volcano erupted off the coast of Ito, Japan on July 13th, creating a mound 82 feet high. Thousands of tremors and several volcanic eruptions have occurred in the past two weeks and authorities warn the volcano is likely to erupt again. Doctors report a growing number of stress-related illnesses, including insomnia and gastritis. People didn't feel sick for a couple of days after the eruption because they were still tense. The Japanese government has ordered all schools closed until further notice. Humans have information which helps to relieve tensions but animals don't.