Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO2325
2007-05-24 03:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
how-toVZCZCXRO4881 RR RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD DE RUEHKO #2325 1440346 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 240346Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3880 INFO RUEHZN/EST COLLECTIVE RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1229 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 0447 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 3663 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4793 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 2110 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS TOKYO 002325
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J HYAMS AND WEBSTER AND OES/IHA
DEPT PASS TO WHITE HOUSE OSTP
DEPT PASS TO NIH/NIAID WESTERN
DEPT PASS TO CDC/NICID
DEPT PASS TO USDA
HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER AND BHAT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMED EAGR TBIO JA
SUBJECT: MEASLES OUTBREAK IN TOKYO
REF: 06 TOKYO 3245
UNCLAS TOKYO 002325
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J HYAMS AND WEBSTER AND OES/IHA
DEPT PASS TO WHITE HOUSE OSTP
DEPT PASS TO NIH/NIAID WESTERN
DEPT PASS TO CDC/NICID
DEPT PASS TO USDA
HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER AND BHAT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMED EAGR TBIO JA
SUBJECT: MEASLES OUTBREAK IN TOKYO
REF: 06 TOKYO 3245
1. Summary. According to Japan's Infectious Disease Surveillance
Center (IDSC),an outbreak of measles cases has been reported in the
Kanto region surrounding Tokyo, affecting young adults in
particular. Some universities and high schools have cancelled
classes in order to halt the further spread of the disease. IDSC has
issued a warning to the public that the measles are spreading in the
Kanto region and is recommending vaccination to those who have not
been inoculated. End summary.
2. An investigation by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper has revealed
that 221 students were infected with measles as of May 21 in seven
Tokyo-area universities with around 150,000 students. 279 cases have
also been reported in 104 Tokyo Metropolitan high schools as of May
18. These universities and high schools have decided to close for a
certain period.
3. Dr. Nobuhiko Okabe, Director of the IDSC, commented that measles
may be spreading among those in their teens and twenties because
this age group, inoculated against measles in childhood, has since
had little exposure to the measles virus and their original immunity
may have been weakened. Newspapers have cited some doctors as saying
that some of those their teens and twenties were not vaccinated as
children due to concern about side effects of the MMR vaccine in the
late 1980s.
4. In response to concerns of the shortage of the vaccine
stockpile, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has
requested medical institutions to purchase the appropriate number of
doses. As of May 18, 80,000 doses have been stockpiled, but 30,000
doses were distributed on just three days from May 16 to 18.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J HYAMS AND WEBSTER AND OES/IHA
DEPT PASS TO WHITE HOUSE OSTP
DEPT PASS TO NIH/NIAID WESTERN
DEPT PASS TO CDC/NICID
DEPT PASS TO USDA
HHS FOR OGHA STEIGER AND BHAT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMED EAGR TBIO JA
SUBJECT: MEASLES OUTBREAK IN TOKYO
REF: 06 TOKYO 3245
1. Summary. According to Japan's Infectious Disease Surveillance
Center (IDSC),an outbreak of measles cases has been reported in the
Kanto region surrounding Tokyo, affecting young adults in
particular. Some universities and high schools have cancelled
classes in order to halt the further spread of the disease. IDSC has
issued a warning to the public that the measles are spreading in the
Kanto region and is recommending vaccination to those who have not
been inoculated. End summary.
2. An investigation by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper has revealed
that 221 students were infected with measles as of May 21 in seven
Tokyo-area universities with around 150,000 students. 279 cases have
also been reported in 104 Tokyo Metropolitan high schools as of May
18. These universities and high schools have decided to close for a
certain period.
3. Dr. Nobuhiko Okabe, Director of the IDSC, commented that measles
may be spreading among those in their teens and twenties because
this age group, inoculated against measles in childhood, has since
had little exposure to the measles virus and their original immunity
may have been weakened. Newspapers have cited some doctors as saying
that some of those their teens and twenties were not vaccinated as
children due to concern about side effects of the MMR vaccine in the
late 1980s.
4. In response to concerns of the shortage of the vaccine
stockpile, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has
requested medical institutions to purchase the appropriate number of
doses. As of May 18, 80,000 doses have been stockpiled, but 30,000
doses were distributed on just three days from May 16 to 18.
SCHIEFFER