Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO1024
2009-05-01 11:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MGSF01 May 1 UPDATE ON JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 OUTBREAK
how-toVZCZCXRO4294 OO RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO DE RUEHKO #1024/01 1211120 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 011120Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2715 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO CITY 0608 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5118 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9100 RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 3817 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 1471 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 6155 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 7620 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 4354 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3516 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4900 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 8618 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001024
DEPT FOR OES/IHB AMBASSADOR LOFTIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J, EAP/EX, CA
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS FOR BURDETT
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA
DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR AESC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG, EAGR, JA
SUBJECT: MGSF01 May 1 UPDATE ON JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 OUTBREAK
REF: A) TOKYO 965; B) TOKYO 982; C) TOKYO 993; D)TOKYO 1008
TOKYO 00001024 001.2 OF 002
This Message is Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle
accordingly.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001024
DEPT FOR OES/IHB AMBASSADOR LOFTIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J, EAP/EX, CA
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS FOR BURDETT
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA
DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR AESC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG, EAGR, JA
SUBJECT: MGSF01 May 1 UPDATE ON JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 OUTBREAK
REF: A) TOKYO 965; B) TOKYO 982; C) TOKYO 993; D)TOKYO 1008
TOKYO 00001024 001.2 OF 002
This Message is Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle
accordingly.
1. (SBU) Summary: A four-month-old baby arriving at Yokota Air Base
May 1 tested positive for Type A influenza. The baby is in
isolation together with the mother at Yokota Hospital and is
undergoing further evaluation and treatment. The case is being
evaluated for possible H1N1. Thirteen other passengers, who
exhibited no symptoms, submitted to voluntary quarantine pending
further tests. Post is coordinating with USFJ and the GOJ on the
case. A Japanese student in Yokohama reported to have Type A
influenza later tested negative for the H1N1 strain as did another
Japanese earlier suspected of suffering from H1N1 influenza who
arrived in Tokyo on a flight from the U.S. April 30. The PM said
the GOJ should be flexible and agile about further countermeasures
should an H1N1 case be confirmed in Japan. Aviation officials are
concerned about the impact of border screening measures on passenger
traffic. End summary.
2. (SBU) United States Forces Japan (USFJ) reported a four-month
old baby tested positive for Type A influenza during health
screening upon arrival May 1 at the U.S. Air Force's Yokota Air Base
in Fussa, Japan. Virus samples are being tested to determine
whether the baby is infected with the H1N1 strain. Military
officers said the baby was transferred with its mother, who did not
exhibit flu symptoms, to the hospital on the base where they are in
isolation and the baby is undergoing further evaluation and
treatment. The baby, on SOFA dependent status, arrived from the
U.S. with her parents on the Air Force's "Patriot Express" flight at
8:20 a.m. local time May 1. Thirteen other passengers, seated
nearby on the flight, submitted to voluntary quarantine pending
further tests. None of the 13 other passengers exhibited flu
symptoms. (Note: U.S. Military operational commands in Japan are
conducting health screening procedures for international arrivals at
their bases. These measures are similar to those being conducted by
the GOJ at Japan's international airports. End Note).
3. (SBU) Post informed MOFA officials May 1 of the Type A case at
Yokota Air Base. Foreign Ministry officials said they later briefed
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura and officials at the Ministry of
Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) on the case and that Kawamura
instructed MHLW to offer assistance to USFJ in testing the virus
sample at its National Institute for Infectious Diseases. Post is
in contact with MOFA and MHLW officials and will coordinate on
possible assistance.
4. (SBU) The Foreign Ministry issued a press release on the case,
emphasizing U.S.-Japan cooperation and the effectiveness of USFJ's
screening and quarantine measures.
5. (SBU) Earlier on May 1, media reported a possible H1N1 case in a
17-year-old Yokohama high school student who recently returned from
British Columbia. However, further tests determined the student did
not have the H1N1 virus, according to press reports. Another
Japanese suspected of suffering from H1N1 influenza who arrived in
Tokyo on a flight from the U.S. April 30 later tested negative for
the H1N1 strain.
6. (SBU) Media reports of the GOJ's pandemic task force meeting May
1 noted Prime Minister Aso's call that the GOJ should make utmost
efforts to prevent H1N1 from spreading in Japan. Aso added the GOJ
should be flexible and agile in implementing additional
countermeasures, should an H1N1 case be confirmed in Japan. Media
also reported Aso and Chinese President Hu agreed April 30 to
TOKYO 00001024 002.2 OF 002
cooperate in preventing H1N1 from spreading further.
7. (SBU) Kansai airport (KIX) officials told emboffs they are
concerned about the impact of screening and quarantine measures on
air passenger traffic. United Airlines officials said they have
seen an increase of 30-40 cancellations each day on UA's KIX to San
Francisco flights.
8. (U) According to an April 28 Foreign Ministry statement, the GOJ
is sending 5000 courses of Tamiflu to its Embassy in Mexico.
ZUMWALT
DEPT FOR OES/IHB AMBASSADOR LOFTIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J, EAP/EX, CA
USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS FOR BURDETT
HHS PASS TO CDC
HHS FOR OGHA
DEPT PASS TO AID/GH/HIDN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR AESC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG, EAGR, JA
SUBJECT: MGSF01 May 1 UPDATE ON JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 OUTBREAK
REF: A) TOKYO 965; B) TOKYO 982; C) TOKYO 993; D)TOKYO 1008
TOKYO 00001024 001.2 OF 002
This Message is Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle
accordingly.
1. (SBU) Summary: A four-month-old baby arriving at Yokota Air Base
May 1 tested positive for Type A influenza. The baby is in
isolation together with the mother at Yokota Hospital and is
undergoing further evaluation and treatment. The case is being
evaluated for possible H1N1. Thirteen other passengers, who
exhibited no symptoms, submitted to voluntary quarantine pending
further tests. Post is coordinating with USFJ and the GOJ on the
case. A Japanese student in Yokohama reported to have Type A
influenza later tested negative for the H1N1 strain as did another
Japanese earlier suspected of suffering from H1N1 influenza who
arrived in Tokyo on a flight from the U.S. April 30. The PM said
the GOJ should be flexible and agile about further countermeasures
should an H1N1 case be confirmed in Japan. Aviation officials are
concerned about the impact of border screening measures on passenger
traffic. End summary.
2. (SBU) United States Forces Japan (USFJ) reported a four-month
old baby tested positive for Type A influenza during health
screening upon arrival May 1 at the U.S. Air Force's Yokota Air Base
in Fussa, Japan. Virus samples are being tested to determine
whether the baby is infected with the H1N1 strain. Military
officers said the baby was transferred with its mother, who did not
exhibit flu symptoms, to the hospital on the base where they are in
isolation and the baby is undergoing further evaluation and
treatment. The baby, on SOFA dependent status, arrived from the
U.S. with her parents on the Air Force's "Patriot Express" flight at
8:20 a.m. local time May 1. Thirteen other passengers, seated
nearby on the flight, submitted to voluntary quarantine pending
further tests. None of the 13 other passengers exhibited flu
symptoms. (Note: U.S. Military operational commands in Japan are
conducting health screening procedures for international arrivals at
their bases. These measures are similar to those being conducted by
the GOJ at Japan's international airports. End Note).
3. (SBU) Post informed MOFA officials May 1 of the Type A case at
Yokota Air Base. Foreign Ministry officials said they later briefed
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura and officials at the Ministry of
Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) on the case and that Kawamura
instructed MHLW to offer assistance to USFJ in testing the virus
sample at its National Institute for Infectious Diseases. Post is
in contact with MOFA and MHLW officials and will coordinate on
possible assistance.
4. (SBU) The Foreign Ministry issued a press release on the case,
emphasizing U.S.-Japan cooperation and the effectiveness of USFJ's
screening and quarantine measures.
5. (SBU) Earlier on May 1, media reported a possible H1N1 case in a
17-year-old Yokohama high school student who recently returned from
British Columbia. However, further tests determined the student did
not have the H1N1 virus, according to press reports. Another
Japanese suspected of suffering from H1N1 influenza who arrived in
Tokyo on a flight from the U.S. April 30 later tested negative for
the H1N1 strain.
6. (SBU) Media reports of the GOJ's pandemic task force meeting May
1 noted Prime Minister Aso's call that the GOJ should make utmost
efforts to prevent H1N1 from spreading in Japan. Aso added the GOJ
should be flexible and agile in implementing additional
countermeasures, should an H1N1 case be confirmed in Japan. Media
also reported Aso and Chinese President Hu agreed April 30 to
TOKYO 00001024 002.2 OF 002
cooperate in preventing H1N1 from spreading further.
7. (SBU) Kansai airport (KIX) officials told emboffs they are
concerned about the impact of screening and quarantine measures on
air passenger traffic. United Airlines officials said they have
seen an increase of 30-40 cancellations each day on UA's KIX to San
Francisco flights.
8. (U) According to an April 28 Foreign Ministry statement, the GOJ
is sending 5000 courses of Tamiflu to its Embassy in Mexico.
ZUMWALT