AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT FEBRUARY 16

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DEPT FOR OES/IHA POWELL, SINGER AND FENDRICK
DEPT FOR EAP/J
USDA PASS TO APHIS
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER, BHAT AND ELVANDER

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH ECON PREL SOCI WHO JA
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: JAPAN WEEKLY REPORT FEBRUARY 16

REF: A. 05 STATE 153802

B. TOKYO 729 AND PREVIOUS

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1. No human outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza (AI) were
reported in Japan during the past week. Consulate-General
Sapporo contributed to this week's AI report.

-- Chugai Planning Domestic Production of Tamiflu --


2. The Chugai Pharmaceutical Company has finalized plans to
produce the antiviral drug Tamiflu in Japan, which it
currently imports from its Swiss parent Roche AG, according
to company sources. The company will build new production
lines at its plant in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, with
the aim of beginning to supply the market in about three
years. Chugai decided that domestic production would help
ensure a stable supply of the drug in case of a possible
pandemic outbreak. The Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare (MHLW) also asked Chugai to work towards domestic
production. The company will initially produce the liquid
formulation of Tamiflu, which is designed for pediatric
treatment. Chugai plans to look at whether domestic
production of the capsule form of Tamiflu is also possible
after examining the profitability of the liquid
formulation.

-- Crazy with the Flu? --


3. A Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare study group will
investigate the frequency of children infected by influenza
displaying abnormal behaviors, consciousness disorders, and
convulsions. The group led by Professor Shunpei Yokota of
Yokohama City University will also discuss the side effects
of Tamiflu, which some have alleged causes abnormal
behaviors and even death in individuals taking the drug.

-- Influenza Preparations in Hokkaido --


4. On December 13, 2005, the Hokkaido government organized
a meeting on measures to manage the risk associated with
infectious diseases. Hokkaido government representatives
met with medical associations and institutions and central
government delegates. The purpose of the meeting was to
exchange information and arrive at a common understanding
of the risks associated with avian Influenza and other new
types of influenza. The attendees also discussed possible
countermeasures and required procedures. They decided to
develop a countermeasure action plan by the end of 2005.
This plan was approved at a subsequent meeting on December

26. The plan is now posted on the Hokkaido Government
Department of Health & Welfare web page.


5. Sapporo, the northern island's largest city and capital,
does not yet have a designated hospital that has negative
pressure rooms to isolate pandemic influenza patients. The
closest hospital is located in Fukagawa, approximately 1.5
hours away from the city. There are a total of six
designated hospitals throughout Hokkaido that have negative
pressure rooms. According to Mr. Yamaguchi of the Disease
Control Division of the Hokkaido Government, the City of
Sapporo plans to establish several negative pressure rooms
at the Sapporo Municipal Hospital by 2007. The Sapporo
Medical University hospital currently has negative pressure
rooms normally reserved for tuberculosis treatment, and the
city is now negotiating with the hospital to be able to use
these rooms in case of pandemic influenza outbreak.


6. The website of the Hokkaido Department of Health and
Welfare has information available to the general public
explaining the novel types of influenza and the above-
mentioned action plan. Though information is only
available in Japanese, local officials plan to translate
this information into English, Chinese and possibly Korean,
to provide information to the island's foreign residents.

-- Embassy Outreach --


7. On February 13, the Tokyo American Center held a program

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entitled "Preparing for and Coping with a Pandemic: The
Avian Flu Threat" that featured the Center for Strategic
and International Studies (CSIS) Homeland Security Program
director David Heyman. ESToff provided USG commentary and
updated an audience of more than forty government officials
including from MHLW and the National Institute of
Infectious Diseases (NIID) on the current status of the
United States' Implementation Plan for the National
Strategy for Pandemic Influenza. A lively discussion
followed that touched on a variety of issues including exit
strategies for pandemic plans, the importance of
containment strategies, and the need for transparency in
reporting AI outbreaks. Dr. Nobuhiko Okabe, Director of
NIID's Infectious Diseases Surveillance Center, who played
the role of moderator during the program, explained to the
audience that it is important for Japan to step-up its
efforts in preparing for a possible pandemic by including a
broad spectrum of society members in the planning.

SCHIEFFER