Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.firefightingnews.com/article-WO.cfm?articleID=49139
Japanese Firefighters Conduct Drill Over Onset of New Influenza
Posted May 21, 2008
Firefighters conducted a drill Wednesday in connection with the possibility of the onset of a new influenza in Japan. The drill, conducted at Kawasaki City's fire department in Kanagawa Prefecture, was the first of its kind sponsored by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, a unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
It was intended to confirm cooperation with local governments and procedures for the emergency transport of flu-stricken patients.
The scenario was a Kawasaki man developing flu symptoms after his return from overseas, where he was infected with a mutated form of the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza, and two of his colleagues being found a few days later to possibly have contracted the disease.
The drill began with a person posing as the traveller calling the local fire department to complain of the symptoms. The fire agency in Tokyo, after receiving a report on the incident via the Kanagawa prefectural government, set up an imaginary task force to deal with the situation.
The task force then taught the city fire department how to prevent the spread of the infection based on data collected overseas.
The drill also featured firefighters wearing protective suits transporting the man from a building of the city fire department regarded as his home to a municipal hospital in Kawasaki.
World Health Organization statistics showed 382 people were diagnosed with the H5N1 strain of avian flu between 2003 and the end of this April. Of them, 241, or 63 per cent, have died from the disease.
Originally published by Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 0053 21 May 08.
(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Written by BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific
Japanese Firefighters Conduct Drill Over Onset of New Influenza
Posted May 21, 2008
Firefighters conducted a drill Wednesday in connection with the possibility of the onset of a new influenza in Japan. The drill, conducted at Kawasaki City's fire department in Kanagawa Prefecture, was the first of its kind sponsored by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, a unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
It was intended to confirm cooperation with local governments and procedures for the emergency transport of flu-stricken patients.
The scenario was a Kawasaki man developing flu symptoms after his return from overseas, where he was infected with a mutated form of the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza, and two of his colleagues being found a few days later to possibly have contracted the disease.
The drill began with a person posing as the traveller calling the local fire department to complain of the symptoms. The fire agency in Tokyo, after receiving a report on the incident via the Kanagawa prefectural government, set up an imaginary task force to deal with the situation.
The task force then taught the city fire department how to prevent the spread of the infection based on data collected overseas.
The drill also featured firefighters wearing protective suits transporting the man from a building of the city fire department regarded as his home to a municipal hospital in Kawasaki.
World Health Organization statistics showed 382 people were diagnosed with the H5N1 strain of avian flu between 2003 and the end of this April. Of them, 241, or 63 per cent, have died from the disease.
Originally published by Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 0053 21 May 08.
(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Written by BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific