Aso calls for calm response as new flu infections exceed 5000 in Japan

[Sally Furniss]

Japan closes 2,000 schools as swine flu spreads
AFP

Japan closes 2,000 schools as swine flu spreads AFP – People wearing facemasks arrive at a railway station on way to their offices in Kobe, Hyogo prefecture, …
by Shingo Ito Shingo Ito

KOBE, Japan (AFP) – Japan has confirmed 129 swine flu cases and shuttered more than 2,000 schools and kindergartens in a bid to slow the spread of the virus that may already have infected hundreds.

The number of (A)H1N1 cases has risen rapidly in the urban areas of Kobe and Osaka since the first confirmed domestic infection -- a 17-year-old Kobe high school student who had not been abroad -- was reported on Saturday.

Authorities said the real number of infections could already be in the hundreds with the virus spreading fast in the densely populated island nation.

The Japanese outbreak increases the chance the World Health Organization may raise its pandemic alert level to six -- the top level which would indicate sustained community transmission in a second region outside the Americas.

Experts in Japan now believe the virus spread quickly between the two urban areas after high schools from Kobe and Osaka met for a volleyball tournament, with some players and coaches feeling feverish after the games.

"We have to contain this in the region, but it is becoming very difficult," said Toshizo Ido, governor of Hyogo Prefecture, which includes Kobe.

After a crisis cabinet meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Taro Aso urged the public to stay calm, stressing that most people recover quickly from the A(H1N1) influenza virus.

"Caution is needed because there are cases of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes whose condition is serious," Aso said.

"At the moment, however, many people are recovering smoothly after receiving appropriate treatment early," Aso said, adding that the government had no immediate plans to restrict people's movements and activities.

In Kobe, many office workers, shop staff and public transport officials were wearing masks on the first working day since the outbreak hit the city. Public health announcements were broadcast via train station loudspeakers.

Hotel manager Kotaro Takeda said: "We have received more than 120 cancellations, mostly because of the influenza. We are concerned that groundless rumours may affect our business further."

At Kobe High School, where the first domestic infection was confirmed, all classrooms and schoolyards were empty, while teachers in staff rooms phoned students one by one to check whether they have flu symptoms.

The principal, Yukihiro Amano, told reporters: "We have done whatever we could, but the situation is beyond our expectations."

A housewife living nearby, 31-year-old Yoshiko Fujii, told AFP: "Now that the influenza is spreading so fast, I guess I have to be ready to be infected."

But other residents cautioned against an over-reacting to the virus.

"I see the outbreak positively as the virus appears less dangerous than originally thought," said Kozue Yamagata, a magazine editor. "It's a good opportunity to learn how to act before we may face a more serious one."

No cases have yet been reported in greater Tokyo, which with almost 36 million people is the world's most populous urban area.

Japan's first confirmed cases of swine flu were four people who tested positive after they flew in from the United States earlier this month. They were immediately quarantined along with about 50 fellow passengers.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090518...healthflujapan

[tropical]

#30: ...


Interpretations of WHO level 6

and

"... schools ... no longer appear to be communities"


Can we got from the WHO an frankly gestation of the awareness:

"schools/Universities are not only close communities, they are places of mixings, later mix with students residents at private homes instead of at the campuses only -
- so they must be classed as sustained wider community infections, not close communities only.

[tropical]

#29:
"Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto called Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe to request that guidelines to relax measures against swine flu be issued, citing the possibility that current steps could bring city functions to a halt, Hashimoto revealed at a press conference on Sunday."


That's was the same USA error, to relax measures because of economics/or functions fallouts.

The real halting would start widely if the measures are relaxed, because than it will be loosed the only way to more slow it.

It is neccessary make emergency working shifts only, and close for a few weeks all the unneccessary, and leave only the strict to get water, and other strictly neccesary population needs.

Mexico must already make such needed closures, but did it when already the virus was wide spreaded.
So it is better do the restrictions early, and than relaxed after the first month (basic monthly payings assured for paying bills, etc).

[tropical]

#32:
"Experts in Japan now believe the virus spread quickly between the two urban areas after high schools from Kobe and Osaka met for a volleyball tournament, with some players and coaches feeling feverish after the games.

"We have to contain this in the region, but it is becoming very difficult," said Toshizo Ido, governor of Hyogo Prefecture, which includes Kobe.

After a crisis cabinet meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Taro Aso urged the public to stay calm, stressing that most people recover quickly from the A(H1N1) influenza virus.

"Caution is needed because there are cases of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes whose condition is serious," Aso said.

"At the moment, however, many people are recovering smoothly after receiving appropriate treatment early," Aso said, adding that the government had no immediate plans to restrict people's movements and activities.

In Kobe, many office workers, shop staff and public transport officials were wearing masks on the first working day since the outbreak hit the city. Public health announcements were broadcast via train station loudspeakers."

[SuperNova1987A]

There is no wide-spread infection
Source: http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=soc_30&k=2009051800706
16:40 May 18, 2009

“All confirmed cases are school-related. Wide-spread infections are not confirmed as of now.” WHO’s Thompson spokesperson stated Monday.
WHO had a telephone conference Monday morning with WHO’s Western Pacific Regional office to exchange information about the outbreak situation in Japan.
According to the spokesperson, 125 cases in Japan were confirmed during the conference.

Development of infections is also reported in UK. If wide-spread of infections are confirmed in Japan or Europe, WHO will seriously consider raising the alert level to the highest, i.e. “Phase 6.” according to a WHO official.


__________________________
SN1987A

[SuperNova1987A]

Tokyo stock market plunged 226 yen to close at 9,038 yen.


This is regarded as partly due to spread of A(H1N1) in Japan and its influence over private spendings.

On the other hand, share prices of Chugai Pharmaceutical (Tamiflu) and manufacturers of masks and PPE increased.

_____________________
SN1987A

[SuperNova1987A]

School closures in Osaka and Hyogo affect 1.2 million - Excerpt
Source: http://www.asahi.com/national/update...905180072.html
13:35 May 18, 2009/05/18

Following the Health Ministry’s request to all the junior high schools and senior high schools in Osaka and Hyogo to close schools, 2384 public schools (primarys, junior highs and senior highs) in Osaka and Hyogo will be closed for 7 days, affecting about 1.6 million students and pupils, or 1.2 million if including private schools in the area.
-snip-
________________________
SN1987A

[FrenchieGirl]

I don't have a reliable source for this article

quote
¨?^|#@[]{k844jh¨1736%&ç*(/&%"/ñ`n!ü`äö+ç*"%&(°)
unquote

Originally Posted by SuperNova1987A

There is no wide-spread infection
Source: http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=soc_30&k=2009051800706
16:40 May 18, 2009

“All confirmed cases are school-related. Wide-spread infections are not confirmed as of now.” WHO’s Thompson spokesperson stated Monday.
WHO had a telephone conference Monday morning with WHO’s Western Pacific Regional office to exchange information about the outbreak situation in Japan.
According to the spokesperson, 125 cases in Japan were confirmed during the conference.

Development of infections is also reported in UK. If wide-spread of infections are confirmed in Japan or Europe, WHO will seriously consider raising the alert level to the highest, i.e. “Phase 6.” according to a WHO official.


__________________________
SN1987A

[SuperNova1987A]

Mildly ill patients may stay home-Health minitrer
17:45 May 18, 2009/05/18
Source: http://www.asahi.com/national/update...905180257.html

Health minister, Yoichi Masuzoe, held a press conference at 5pm today and announced that the ministry would consider relaxing the present flu measures which were originally planned against deadly bird flu. The government’s action plan and guidelines may also be reviewed. In order to secure hospitalization of severely ill patients, “we will consider shifting the guideline of medical treatment for suspected and mildly ill patients.” the minister stated.

“Generally speaking, the present novel flu is not different from the seasonal flu.” Masuzoe quoted specialist’s opinion (*). “Osaka and Hyogo prefectures are closing its junior and senior high schools for 7 days, considering the disease’s incubation period. The government will consider shifting counter-measures during the period.” Masuzoe added.

Masuzoe also stated: “We will start the development of vaccine for the second wave of novel flu and will do every measures and utmost efforts to protect the life and health of Japanese people.”

(*) Expert advisory commission

_______________________
SN1987A

[tropical]

Originally Posted by SuperNova1987A

School closures in Osaka and Hyogo affect 1.2 million - Excerpt
Source: http://www.asahi.com/national/update...905180072.html
13:35 May 18, 2009/05/18

Following the Health Ministry’s request to all the junior high schools and senior high schools in Osaka and Hyogo to close schools, 2384 public schools (primarys, junior highs and senior highs) in Osaka and Hyogo will be closed for 7 days, affecting about 1.6 million students and pupils, or 1.2 million if including private schools in the area.
-snip-
________________________
SN1987A

Well done.


When parents makes chields, there must be perfectly clear that until they reach out the teen age (and a little further), they must be prepared that they could be various time lenght at their homes continuously.

So, knowing the actual danger for them, their's family, and the society, staying at home for 7 days (pitty and a possible failure as in USA, that it isn't at least for 2 weeks) is a very small thing compared to the possible initial preservation from this pandemic wave.

Especialy if it tends to stagnate its initial fast spreading after a while.

[SuperNova1987A]

Originally Posted by FrenchieGirl

I don't have a reliable source for this article

quote
¨?^|#@[]{k844jh¨1736%&ç*(/&%"/ñ`n!ü`äö+ç*"%&(°)
unquote

Hi FrenchieGirl,

Jiji-tsushin is a Japanese reliable news agency, just like AFP.
The article may be from a flash from a press conference or from a private interview with the spokesperson. (The article doesn't say.)
In the former case, other press will follow. In the latter case, there may be no supporting news from other sources. But I suppose the statement is in line with WHO's attitude towards the infections in Japan.

Best regards.

__________________
SN1987A

[FrenchieGirl]

Sorry if I gave rise to a misunderstanding. I'm not questioning the source of the article you posted. My expletives were my [ironic] attempt to comment on Mr. Thompson's declaration. I'll keep to actual news posting. Sorry again.

[SuperNova1987A]

Osaka Prefecture’s Interim Guideline for Medical Treatment of A(H1N1) - Excerpts
Source:http://medical.nikkeibp.co.jp/leaf/all/special/pandemic/topics/200905/510738.html

Hospitalization only for medically severe cases
Rules
(1) (Continued) To hospitalize in the designated medical facilities for contagious diseases.
(2) (Continued) Osaka prefectural reginal health and contagious disease section will make coordinations for hospitalization.
(3) Hospital discharge shall be decided by the doctor in attendence according to his or her consideration of medical necessity.
(4) Treatment shall be medical insurance treatment. (Note: This does not mean people without a medical insurance will be rejected. Basically, all people in Japan have a medical insurance.)
(5) Doctors will not make a recommendation for hospitalization. (Note: most probably a recommendation under the Contagious Disease Prevention Law)

For mildly ill patients who are not eligible for hospitalization
Rules
(1) Strongly request to stay home.
(2) Fever center will provide Tamiflu or Relenza.
(3) Region’s health care center shall check the patient’s health conditions for seven days or until the patient shows no symptom whichever the longer. (Note: by telephone)
(4) Tamiflu or Relenza shall be provided for family members for preventive dose.

Note: Above notes are my speculations.
Please let us know what are the differences with the rules in US.
_____________________
SN1987A

[SuperNova1987A]

Originally Posted by FrenchieGirl

Sorry if I gave rise to a misunderstanding. I'm not questioning the source of the article you posted. My expletives were my [ironic] attempt to comment on Mr. Thompson's declaration. I'll keep to actual news posting. Sorry again.

Hi, FrenchieGirl

It's perfectly alright. I'm actually behind you.
Sorry. I was too dull.

_________________
SN1987A

[HenryN]

Schools Close as Spike in Swine Flu Cases Hits Japan

By Ishaan Tharoor / Hong Kong Monday, May. 18, 2009

Commuters wear masks as precaution against swine flu in Osaka, Japan, on May 18, 2009
Kyodo News / AP

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In a sudden surge that took Asian health officials by surprise, the Japanese health ministry confirmed on Monday at least 125 new cases of the A(H1N1) virus — or swine flu — in the country's western prefectures of Osaka and Hyogo. Officials have shut down around 1,000 schools since many of the infected were high-school students. Japan, along with the United Kingdom and Spain, is now one of the few countries outside of North America where the World Health Organization (WHO) fears sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus could lead to the onset of a full-blown pandemic. "We must respond calmly and appropriately," warned Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso at a press conference Monday morning.

Related

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Panic over the threat of a global pandemic has subsided since early May, as governments across the world stepped up preventive measures that seem to be keeping the virus under control. But Japan's weekend cases are not alone: By Sunday, the UK confirmed 14 more cases, while Turkey and India both announced their first, bringing the number of countries affected to 39. In Hong Kong, a 23-year-old student returning from North America became the territory's third swine flu case, and the 63 passengers who sat closest to him on his flight are being tracked by government officials to be quarantined for a week in a remote holiday camp in the region. In Beijing, another student recently returned from the U.S. video-chatted with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao from her hospital bed after being confirmed as the mainland's third swine flu patient. (See pictures of the swine flu in Mexico.)
Authorities in East Asia — which has suffered heavily in recent years from outbreaks of various infectious diseases — have clamped down early and quickly on suspected cases of swine flu. Just over a week ago, Hong Kong released some 300 people stuck at a business hotel after cooping them up in a week-long quarantine when one guest was found to be carrying the virus. The city, one of Asia's busiest business and travel hubs, was ravaged by the 2003 SARS epidemic, as well as subsequent scares over avian flu. As a consequence, its counter-pandemic procedures are among the most draconian in the world, while its epidemiology laboratories are among the most advanced. (Read: "Battling Swine Flu: The Lessons from SARS.")

But the spike in Japan's cases shows that swine flu can infiltrate safety nets there and elsewhere, lingering beneath the radar of health monitors. Government officials are still unsure of how the virus reached Osaka and Hyogo, or how long it has been circulating in the region's highly populated urban centers of Osaka and Kobe. In addition to schools, movie theaters in the outbreak-hit prefectures were also advised to close today and Tokyo has now blocked its own educational institutions from visiting the area on field trips. "We must be prepared for a further expansion [of the virus]," says Toru Hashimoto, Osaka's governor.
Japan's four earlier suspected swine flu cases came from travelers inbound from North America, but this new bout appears to be wholly domestic. Most of the cases involve teenagers — the first confirmed infected on Saturday were high-school students on a volleyball team — but those sick with the new strain of flu now range from as young as 5 years old to 60. "It circulated silently without anybody thinking of it," says Peter Cordingley, spokesman for the WHO in Manila. "The virus is highly transmittable and signs of it breaking out of a contained area into the greater community must be watched and taken very seriously." (See the 5 things you need to know about swine flu.)
Swine flu's known symptoms vary little from winter flu, which is one of the main reasons why it is difficult to track. Those with underlying health problems, such as diabetes or heart disease, seem especially vulnerable —a particular concern for a nation like Japan with a high elderly population. None of the infected are in critical condition, but, as deadly influenza pandemics have proved IN the past, the current strain of A(H1N1) may mutate and become far more virulent — and lethal — by the next flu season. (Read: "How to Deal with Swine Flu: Heeding the Mistakes of 1976.")
Seto Wing-hong, a leading microbiologist and a member of the Hong Kong government's Influenza Research and Response Group, is cautiously optimistic about the world's ability to reckon with this new disease. "There is every chance that it will spread," he says. "But these things have long incubation periods and we, like never before, have the luxury of time and high-speed technology to track strains of viruses again and again, and to fine tune our actions in response." Seto believes a useable vaccine can be made and distributed by September or October.
Still, with the world economy so tightly integrated and millions on the move every day, the threat of an epidemic haunts the health officialdom of all governments. Kiyoshi Kurokawa, a public health policy expert and adviser to the Japanese prime minister, urges continuous communication between governments, hospitals dealing with outbreaks and international agencies. "Keeping the process transparent is key," he says. As Japan comes to grips with the virus in its midst, the enemy it — and the world — knows is far better than the one it does not.
— With reporting by Coco Masters / Tokyo

http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...xid=rss-health

[SuperNova1987A]

11 patients in Kobe discharged while novel flu cases reach 139 with 9 more high school students infected
21:15 May 18, 2009
Source: http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=soc_30&k=2009051800838&j1

11 patients were discharged from hospitals, announced Kobe city today.
This is according to the city’s new rule to restrict hospitalization only to severly ill patients due to lack of hospital beds.
Novel flu cases reach 139 with 9 more cases of high school students in Hyogo prefecture revealed.

____________________________
SN1987A

[tropical]

#46: picture

Good to see the people disciplinately implemented masks.

Still, gloves are missing.


"To Thwart the Next Swine Flu, Better Testing of Animals Needed"

When 60-70% of antibiotics/... are given at small long term doses to the food chain animals not because of shielding them from microbes, but to growing them much faster, the legislators will need an basic agribusiness reconfiguring ...

(based on TV video reports of scientific screening sources)

[tyto]

H1N1 Cases in Japan by Age Group

Breakdown of H1N1 cases by age as of 9:00pm, May 18, 2009 - Japan Standard Time (JST) GMT+9

10-19 yrs 121 cases
20-29 yrs 5 cases
30-39 yrs 3 cases
40-49 yrs 4 cases

A few cases for children under 10 yrs old and adults older than 50.

Source: Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) 9:00pm News Broadcast
NHK is the Japanese public broadcasting service - equivalent to PBS or the Canadian CBC.

[HenryN]

Commentary

[sharon sanders]

HONG KONG, May 18 (Xinhua) --

The number of A/H1N1 cases in Japan has reached 144 after 48 more infections were confirmed Monday in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures. The number may keep rising as many in the region reported symptoms of the new flu.
The Japanese government on Monday convened an emergency task force meeting to discuss countermeasures on the spread of the epidemic.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Taro Aso called on the public to remain calm, saying the Japanese government has no plans to ask citizens to refrain from holding meetings or scale down corporate activity.
The government task force decided not to upgrade its measures aimed at coping with the spread of the new flu from the current phase 2, which refers to an early stage of domestic outbreak, according to Kyodo News.
But the country is facing the risk of large-scale outbreak in its populous cities which could lead the WHO to raise its new flu pandemic alert from the current 5 to the highest level of 6, which means community-level outbreaks in two different WHO regions, experts have warned.
The WHO is launching investigation on the situation in Japan.
The newly confirmed domestic cases included high school students, college students, their family members and teachers, as well as bank clerk and people working at a local railway ticketing office.
Nearly all the schools in the two prefectures are closed, as many of the infected are students.
The symptoms among Japanese patients are relatively light compared with those in North America, and none of the 130 people are in critical condition.
In China, health authorities have begun tracing passengers who may have traveled in the same train carriage as a man who was reported Monday to be the mainland's fourth suspected case of A/H1N1 flu.
The man, with the surname Yang, returned to China's mainland on Friday from a tour of the United States and Canada, according to a notice from the Ministry of Health.
Yang returned to the southern coastal province of Guangdong by train Friday afternoon after flying into Hong Kong via the Republic of Korea Wednesday, said a ministry official.
Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Monday that Yang caught Korean Air flight KE020 from Seattle last Tuesday to Seoul, where he transferred to Korean Air flight KE607 to Hong Kong on Wednesday.
Guangdong Provincial Health Department said Monday Yang was admitted to the No. 8 People's Hospital of Guangzhou on Friday afternoon.
Yang, 59, and native of Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, lives in Nanhai, a city in Guangdong. In late April, he joined an independent tour group visiting Canada and the United States.
Yang's itinerary in Canada and the United States, as well as Hong Kong is not immediately known.
According to the Guangdong Provincial Health Department, he developed a sore throat, blocked nose, and coughing on Thursday.
He caught the T810 two-hour train service in Hong Kong at 4:35 p.m. Friday, in carriage No. 7, and returned to Guangzhou.
Yang's temperature tested normal when he boarded the train, bu the developed a fever halfway through the journey. He was taken to the No. 8 People's Hospital for isolation and medical treatment, said the provincial health authorities.
In India, two persons, a mother and her son, have been admitted to hospital in Coimbatore, South India, for suspected A/H1N1 flu symptoms, local Hindi daily Hindustan reported Monday.
The two arrived from New Jersey, the United States, to the south Indian city of Bangalore three days ago and then they moved to Coimbatore.
Meanwhile, the condition of the person confirmed to have been infected with A/H1N1 flu in Hyderabad, central India, is stable, said Indian health officials.
India has intensified measures to check the disease after one person was confirmed to have contracted the killer flu.
In South Korea, a Vietnamese transit passenger has been quarantined at a South Korean airport and has been isolated as she was showing symptoms similar to those of Influenza A/H1N1, the nation's health authorities said on Monday.
The 22-year-old woman, who arrived from Seattle on Sunday afternoon to travel to Vietnam, is isolated in Incheon International Airport, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and prevention (KCDC).
The KDCD and airline officials conducted in-depth tests on the woman after discussions, an official at the KDCD said, adding that the results of the tests will come later in the evening.
The KDCD, at the same time, is tracing the 101 passengers who were aboard the same airplane as a precautionary measure, the official added.
Since the first report of the influenza A/H1N1 in Mexico last month, South Korea has confirmed three patients infected with the virus, all of them were released from quarantine after being treated with antiviral drugs.
Thailand's Public Health Ministry Monday said the country will focus more on air travelers, who pass Japan prior to arriving in Thailand before Japan on Saturday confirmed the first eight cases of domestic infection of the AH1N1 flu on students of a Kobe high school.
Japan's domestic infection has alerted Thailand to be more careful to curb the AH1N1 flu outbreak since there are many air travelers pass Japan prior to arriving at Thailand, Dr. Suphan Srithamma, a spokesman for the Thai health ministry said on Monday.
Hence, any tourist arrivals of Thailand with passing Japan's airports will be closely monitored by Thai medical staff everywhere they will be in Thailand, said the spokesman.
The spokesman's statement was made after he attended a meeting of the Ministry's center responding to the health crisis on Monday morning.
Since May 12, the Public Health Ministry said the country has had its first two A/H1N1 flu cases, however, the two patients have already recovered and will not spread the deadly flu disease to others. The two persons had returned from Mexico.
According to the World Health Organization, Thailand with having had the confirmed A/H1N1 flu patients ranked 33rd as the country, which has been hit by the deadly new virus.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...t_11397640.htm

[Muscade]

感染広域化１６３人に 待機生徒・児童１５０万超

Broad-infected children and 163 students over 150 million people waiting to

大阪府と兵庫県で発生した新型インフルエンザの国内感染で１８日、２府県で新たに３３人の感染 が判明した。

An infection caused by avian flu in Hyogo and Osaka 18th, with another two prefectures found to have infected 33 people.

厚生労働省などによると、成田空港の検疫段階で見つかった４人と合わせ、国内で確認された感染者は計１６３ 人となった。

According to the ministry, found in the quarantine of Narita Airport to four people, the infection was confirmed in a total of 163 people.

大阪府などによると、新たに判明した感染者のうち４人は大阪府の八尾市立南山本小の児童で、うち３人は１７ 日に感染が確認された小６女児と同じクラス。

According to Osaka, one of four newly identified infection in children Komoto Yao Osaka Municipal Nanshan, among the three small 17 days were infected with the same class and six girls.

もう１人は小３の男児。

The other one is three small boys.

小学校でも集団感染が起きた可能性が高まった。

Raising the possibility that infection occurred in the elementary school population.

文部科学省によると、２府県の幼稚園、小中高校、大学など計４０４３校が休校・休園を決めたか、要請を受け 検討中。

According to the Ministry of Education, two prefectures kindergarten, school, or a total of 4043 university and decided to close the schools closed, the request under consideration.

大半の休校は１８日から始まり、大阪府や兵庫県などによると、自宅待機となる生徒・児童は約１５０万人に上 る。

Let's begin with the most 18 days, according to Hyogo and Osaka, students and children waiting at home for about 150 million people.

新たに感染者が出る学校や職場が増加し、居住地や年齢層も広がった。

An increase in schools and workplaces to become infected, the spread of the residence and age.

イベントの中止など市民生活への影響もさまざまな場で出ている。

There are also influenced by a variety of civic life and to cancel the event.

この日の検査結果で、大阪府立柴島高校（大阪市）や同春日丘高校（大阪府茨木市）、私立神戸村野工業高校（ 神戸市）の生徒のほか、国土交通省・豊岡河川国道事務所（兵庫県豊岡市）で働く委託会社の社員の感染が初め て判明。

The results of this test, high school Kunizima Osaka (Osaka) in high school and Takashi Kasuga (Ibaraki, Osaka), Kobe Nomura private industrial school (Kobe), students, office Toyooka River Highway Infrastructure and Transport ( Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture) first identified the disease in employees of the company commissioned work.

既に多数の感染者が出ている私立関西大倉高校（茨木市）、兵庫県立兵庫高校（神戸市）は感染者がさらに増え た。

Private Kansai Okura High School have already infected the majority (Ibaraki), High School, Kobe, Hyogo (Kobe) is further increased by infection.

神戸市でこれまでに感染が確認された患者のうち１１人は症状が改善したため退院した。

Of the patients were infected 11 people so far in Kobe was discharged because of improvement in symptoms.

兵庫県西宮市の職業体験型テーマパーク「キッザニア甲子園」が１９日から１週間の臨時休業を決 めた。

Work experience-a theme park in Nishinomiya, Hyogo "KIZZANIA Koshien" is made from 19 a week extra holiday.

政府の行動計画に従って自治体や企業が行動した場合、必要以上に社会機能がまひしてしまうとの懸念も出てお り、舛添要一厚労相は１８日、「病原性は高くない」として行動計画の見直しを検討する意向を表 明した。

If governments and corporations to act in accordance with the government's action plan, which would also concern the social and paralyzed more than necessary, the minister Masuzoe Youiti 18, 2007, "low pathogenic" as the action plan expressed its intention to review the practice.

2009/05/19 00:49

【共同通信】

[Agencies]

http://translate.google.com/translat...yodo%26hl%3Den

[theforeigner]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...t_11397640.htm

Japan has more confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu


www.chinaview.cn 2009-05-18 23:42:43 Print

HONG KONG, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The number of A/H1N1 cases in Japan has reached 144 after 48 more infections were confirmed Monday in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures.

The number may keep rising as many in the region reported symptoms of the new flu.

The Japanese government on Monday convened an emergency task force meeting to discuss countermeasures on the spread of the epidemic.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Taro Aso called on the public to remain calm, saying the Japanese government has no plans to ask citizens to refrain from holding meetings or scale down corporate activity.

The government task force decided not to upgrade its measures aimed at coping with the spread of the new flu from the current phase 2, which refers to an early stage of domestic outbreak, according to Kyodo News.

But the country is facing the risk of large-scale outbreak in its populous cities which could lead the WHO to raise its new flu pandemic alert from the current 5 to the highest level of 6, which means community-level outbreaks in two different WHO regions, experts have warned.

The WHO is launching investigation on the situation in Japan.

The newly confirmed domestic cases included high school students, college students, their family members and teachers, as well as bank clerk and people working at a local railway ticketing office.

Nearly all the schools in the two prefectures are closed, as many of the infected are students.

The symptoms among Japanese patients are relatively light compared with those in North America, and none of the 130 people are in critical condition.

[SuperNova1987A]

New flu infections in Japan pass 160
Tuesday 19th May, 02:43 AM JST
Source: http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/aso-calls-for-calm-response-as-new-flu-infections-reach-129-in-japan
TOKYO —
The number of new-flu cases in Japan has reached 163 after 67 more
infections were confirmed Monday in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures, while
many in the area reported symptoms of the flu in a sign that suggests that
the influenza may be starting to spread on a full scale.

Prime Minister Taro Aso called on the public to remain calm. The spread of the
new H1N1 strain of influenza A has prompted more than 4,000 schools in the
two western Japan prefectures to close or consider closing, affecting more
than 1.4 million pupils.

The Japanese government at this stage has no plans to ask people to refrain
from going on outings, holding meetings or scaling down corporate activity,
Aso said at a meeting Monday morning of the government task force on the
influenza epidemic.

The government will begin running television messages as early as Tuesday in
which Aso will call on people to remain calm amid the new-flu outbreak, the
Cabinet Office said. (Note: It's started this morning.)

The ages of those confirmed as infected with the new-flu strain ranged from 5
to 60.

Many of the infections have been found among high school students in the
two prefectures with no record of recent overseas travel, according to the
health ministry and local authorities. (Note: It is reported that 70% of the
patients in Japan are high school students, as compared to 40% in US.)

The government task force decided not to upgrade its measures aimed at
coping with the spread of the new flu from the current phase 2, which refers
to an early stage of domestic outbreak.

‘‘Many infected people have received appropriate treatment at an early stage
and recovered,’’ Aso said at the meeting. ‘‘I would like all the people in Japan
to act calmly.’’

But the prime minister warned that those suffering from chronic diseases such
as diabetes could fall seriously ill if infected with the flu.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said the government will consider
raising its antiflu steps to phase 3 to tackle the spread of the infections after
hearing expert opinion.

The government will upgrade its measures when medical workers fail to detect
links among new-flu transmissions or grasp how the flu is spreading, officials
said, adding none of the infected people in Japan have fallen seriously ill.

Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe, meanwhile, told a press
conference Monday that given that the new flu appears to be no more harmful
than seasonal ones, ‘‘It may be better to switch to a new set of measures
premised on H1N1,’’ rather than keep modifying the current action plans based
on a deadly H5N1 virus.

‘‘That’s one option, and we must decide within a week,’’ during which the
schools in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures are to be temporarily shut to prevent
the spread of infections, he said.

‘‘If the number of patients goes up further, we will consider switching to
recuperation at home for those who are still suspected of being infected or
others who have light symptoms, in order to reserve specialized medical
institutions for those with severe symptoms,’’ the health minister said.

Masuzoe added that the government will also work on developing an antidote
(Note: vaccine) for the new flu to prepare for a second outbreak expected in
the future.

A total of 4,043 schools in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures had decided on
temporary closures or are considering such closures to prevent further spread
of the disease as of 5 p.m., according to the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology. The number includes elementary, junior high
and high schools, as well as universities and kindergartens.

Meanwhile, 596 elementary, junior high and high schools in 35 of the country’s
47 prefectures have changed their schedules for planned school trips to
western Japan because of the confirmed outbreaks in the region, according to
figures made available to Kyodo News by local and municipal governments.
The number includes cancellations, postponements and changes in
destination.

The industry ministry, meanwhile, said Monday it will continue to monitor the
impact of the flu outbreak on corporate activity in Japan.

While ensuring the maintenance of lifelines and a stable supply of daily
necessities, the ministry also started considering possible support for smaller
companies through government-backed loans and other financial aid programs,
Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Harufumi Mochizuki told
reporters.

The new flu, which has claimed a total of 76 lives in Mexico, the United
States, Canada and Costa Rica, has been spreading rapidly in western Japan
and has slowly begun to affect daily life in the region.

A subsidiary of West Japan Railway Co, a railway operator commonly known as
JR West, said it will close several kiosks in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, for the
time being because one of its employees has contracted the flu. Kobe city
said the infected employee is a 53-year-old woman who works at a kiosk at JR
Sannomiya Station.

At JR Ibaraki Station, which is close to Kansai Okura Senior High School that is
connected to many new-flu infections, a large number of passengers were
seen wearing masks.

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, a unit of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc,
said a female employee in her 20s in charge of asset management at its
Sannomiya branch in Kobe, was confirmed to have contracted the new strain
of influenza A, adding the employee had not traveled abroad lately.

The bank said she had offered consultations to customers at the counter until
last Friday and that it has ordered 60 other workers at the branch not to
come to work and to stand by at home.

Hyogo Gov Toshizo Ido met with Masuzoe to discuss the central government’s
financial aid for municipalities tackling the new-flu outbreak.

Osaka Gov Toru Hashimoto, who also met Masuzoe later in the day, said in
Osaka the health minister should lead national efforts to combat the disease.

Hashimoto, who issued a warning against a flu epidemic in an emergency press
conference held in the early hours of Monday, urged junior high and high
school students to stay at home during the seven-day school closure period.

Meanwhile, the city of Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, has told students who
visited Kobe on a school trip not to come to school for about a week.

Ido said the measure is ‘‘excessive,’’ but Kitakyushu Mayor Kenji Kitahashi told
a press conference Monday the step is reasonable as it would prevent the
spread of new-flu infections in the southwestern Japan city.

The total infection figure includes four cases discovered during onboard
quarantine inspections at Narita airport among a group of Japanese students
and teachers who flew home earlier this month after a trip to Canada via the ]
United States.

Nearly 9,000 people in 41 countries and regions had been confirmed as
infected with the new flu as of Monday Japan time, including the 76 deaths.


________________________
SN1987A

[SuperNova1987A]

Consultation in Ordinary institutions: Dialogue with Ministry of Health
May 19, 2009
Source: http://osaka.yomiuri.co.jp/tokusyu/i...b.htm?from=sub

Osaka prefecture started a dialogue with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to discuss whether or not to allow novel flu patients to go to ordinary medical institutions for consultation. Osaka, where novel flu is rapidly spreading, considers that infections in Osaka have entered into a pandemic situation

Under the current national pandemic action plan, suspected patients of novel flu are only allowed to visit high-fever consultation centers (fever centers) at the second stage, “early stage of domestic outbreak”, while they can go any medical institution in the third stage, “pandemic stage”.

With the number of patients reached 66 yesterday, suspected patients visit Fever centers in areas where many patients live. In yesterday’s conference on novel flu measures organised by the prefecture, it was reported that “Fever centers in several areas are swamped with patients. Pandemic measures are necessary.” While some doctors expressed cautious opinions, stating “novel flu patients are still a small portion of the population”, the conference finally concluded “Osaka’s current situation is a pandemic”

Governor Toru Hashimoto told Yomiuri shinbun in Tokyo: “A pandemic is the right assessment of the current situation.” However, as considerations are necessary to prevent infections to ordinary patients, the prefecture will decide on measures taking account of Ministry’s opinion.

Infected areas


************************************************
The novel flu is a mild illness except for high risk people such as patients with chronic illnesses, they say. Well, ordinary hospitals and clinics are places for those people.
I think it would be better to keep on going with Fever centers because preventing infections of novel flu at ordinary hospitals and clinics will be very difficult.
Sending doctors and nurses to Fever centers of infected areas may not solve the problem because appropriate treatmets need people, equipments and facilities.
I wonder whether there is any efficient way to transport suspected patients to neighboring areas to alleviatte the burden of Fever centers in infected areas.
________________________
SN1987A

[SuperNova1987A]

Waterside measures to scale down. Looking for the right time. Cabinet secretary
12:32 May 19, 2009
Source: http://news.nifty.com/cs/domestic/go...19-00516/1.htm

“The main emphasis needs to be shifted to domestic measures. Waterside measures will be scaled down and we are looking for the right time.” Cabinet secreatry, Takeo Kawamura, told in the press conference after the cabinet meeting this morning.

The government will review the current measures such as onboard quarantine for passenger flights from Mexico, mainland US and Canada.

“Stopping infected people at the airport has some meaning. However, human resources are limited.” Health minister, Masuzoe stated in today’s press conference, suggesting shifting the medical personnel working on the quarantine to domestic measures to prevent spreading infection.
***************************************
Masuzoe always said waterside measures were only to buy time.
Now, hundreds of medical personnel to go to Osaka and Hyogo.

__________________________________
SN1987A

[SuperNova1987A]

Novel flu: Financial support for local governments
May 19, 2009
Source: http://mainichi.jp/select/science/sw...40018000c.html

Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Financial Services and Economic and Fiscal Policy, Kaoru Yosano, stated in an interview after the cabinet meeting today that the government would provide local governments with necessary funds for the novel flu measures. The minister gave an instruction to discuss with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Reserve fund in the 2009 original budget will be appropriated.
*******************************************
This is a good news especially for Osaka’s governor, Hashimoto, who has been cutting corners in the heavily endebted prefecture, fighting very aggressively against vested interests. It is evaluated that the novel flu measures would cost Osaka at least US$25 million.
___________________________________________
SN1987A

[tropical]

Originally Posted by SuperNova1987A

************************************************
The novel flu is a mild illness except for high risk people such as patients with chronic illnesses, they say. Well, ordinary hospitals and clinics are places for those people.
I think it would be better to keep on going with Fever centers because preventing infections of novel flu at ordinary hospitals and clinics will be very difficult.
Sending doctors and nurses to Fever centers of infected areas may not solve the problem because appropriate treatmets need people, equipments and facilities.

I wonder whether there is any efficient way to transport suspected patients to neighboring areas to alleviatte the burden of Fever centers in infected areas.
________________________
SN1987A

Now becames clear that the young population would get up probably pretty well, but the chronic/illnessed/older would got it on its necks, and without any vaccine as they usualy have for seasonal flu.

The separation of the other kind of illness hospitals must be retained further.

The allestment of field mash for the flu treatment is neccessary, to not infect the others.
If the above is not enaugh because of transporting and flu dissemination problems, existing methods are alredy reported, here also.

It is about the "flu-buses".
Why not allested the main mobile screening and treating machines on several buses, with full shield geared med teams, which could easily came to the at detail localized main blocks/stadions/closed sports facilities/ nearby the main populated areas, and enbark onto the bus one by one of the suspected flu patients giv'em preliminary screening and first treatments.

For the heavy illnessed, additional buses could serve as transporting releys to the dedicated flu hospital of the area.

For the ones such heavy illnessed that they can't walk to the mobile buses, several dedicated ambulances could coming for pick up them to the main flu hospital for treatments.

If families have private owned antivirals, the flu teams must have enaugh dedicated phone numbers and e-mails to got their symptoms details, and to maybe suggest them an autosomministration of antivirals in the 48 hours scheduling, if they can't or don't want come to the buses.

[SuperNova1987A]

As many as 2900 people had close contact.
18:13 May 19, 2009
Source: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/t10013074281000.html#

The Ministry of Health and Welfare interviewed 57 confirmed patients in Kobe-city and Osaka prefecture and found that as many as 2900 people had close contact with the patients. 2500 in Kobe and 400 in Osaka These people may have contracted the novel flu. Kobe-city and Osaka prefecture are requesting them to refrain from outing and supplying antivirals to some people.

*****************
The current total of confirmed patients in Hyogo and Osaka is 182.
Thus, 2900/57*182=9200 in total?
__________________________________
SN1987A

[SuperNova1987A]

Ministry of Health approves consultation in ordinary hospitals - Excerpt
18:57 May 19, 2009
Source: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/t10013075551000.html#

The Ministry of Health and Welfare decided to approve for Kobe-city and Osaka prefecture, consultation of suspected patients of the novel flu not only in designated hospitals for infectious diseases but also ordinary hospitals on the condition that measures will be taken to prevent suspected patient’s contact with other patients.
The national pandemic action plan requires that suspected patients shall basically be consulted either in designated hospitals for infectious diseases or in high-fever consultation centers equipped with facilities to prevent infection of other patients.
However, in Kobe and Osaka, these medical facilities are not enough to consult a growing number of patients.
*************************************************
I am greatly concerned. While most of ordinary hospitals cannot satisfy the condition, people will swarm to the hospitals anyway. Pandemonium
It seems to me that the Ministry is trying to escape its responsibility. Bureaucrats.
The Ministry, Kobe-city and Osaka prefecture shall give any and every support necessary to ordinary hospitals to prevent pandemonium and infections to other patients.

_________________________________
SN1987A

[tropical]

Originally Posted by SuperNova1987A

*************************************************
I am greatly concerned. While most of ordinary hospitals cannot satisfy the condition, people will swarm to the hospitals anyway. Pandemonium
It seems to me that the Ministry is trying to escape its responsibility. Bureaucrats.
The Ministry, Kobe-city and Osaka prefecture shall give any and every support necessary to ordinary hospitals to prevent pandemonium and infections to other patients.

_________________________________
SN1987A

If that's happened in a developed country with few thousend or few 10 thousends of infected patients, what will happens in the megapolis of milions infected ...

I know that its easy to blog sentences but hard to drive things on the field, but this decision of allowing going in some alternative back entrance of ordinary hospitals will disseminate infections also, because of the input streaming peoples merging.

Dislocated field blocks screening places placed in local area schools or similar, could partly mitigate the mingling.

Maybe they leave it goes its way.

Who knows if they at least try to make quarantine rings around the region, or they (and us) will witnessing an omnipresent island size spreadings. I hope not.

Already there are time for instaurate inter-regional barriers.