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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR AESC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR
AMGT, MG, EAGR, JA
SUBJECT: MGSF01 May 5 UPDATE ON JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 OUTBREAK

REF: A) TOKYO 965; B) TOKYO 982; C) TOKYO 993; D)TOKYO 1008; E)TOKYO
1024

This Message is Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle
accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: No human cases of the novel H1N1 influenza virus
have been confirmed in Japan. A U.S. service member was under
observation at Kansai International Airport May 5 after a passenger
on the service member's flight showed flu symptoms. A Japanese
woman who arrived from Los Angeles at Narita airport May 4 and
initially tested positive for Type A influenza was later confirmed
not to be infected with the novel strain. At least 35 other
passengers and two flight attendants were quarantined for more than
12 hours pending confirmation of the virus. The infant hospitalized
at Yokota Air Base May 1 was determined May 3 not to be infected
with the novel H1N1 strain. The child and mother, along with 13
other passengers quarantined pending results of virus testing, were
released May 3. In coordination with U.S. Forces Japan, the GOJ,
and Post, Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases
confirmed a virus sample from the infant to be a seasonal influenza
strain. End summary.


2. (U) As of May 5, 2009 1700 local time, no human cases of the
novel Type A H1N1 influenza virus have been confirmed in Japan.


3. (SBU) Foreign Ministry officials told emboffs May 5 a U.S.
service member who arrived on a flight at Kansai International
Airport (KIX) was under observation after a passenger seated nearby
showed flu symptoms. Post is working to obtain further details.


4. (SBU) Media reported a Japanese woman who arrived on American
Airlines from Los Angeles at Narita airport May 4 and initially
tested positive for Type A influenza was later confirmed not to be
infected with the novel H1N1 strain. At least 35 other passengers
and two flight attendants were quarantined for at least 12 hours
pending confirmation of the virus. Quarantine officers continue to
board flights arriving from the U.S., Mexico, Canada and other
affected countries and health screening and quarantine procedures
continue to cause significant delays for some arriving passengers.


5. (SBU) Based on information from USFJ and the Embassy, the
Foreign Ministry announced May 3 that the 4 month-old child
hospitalized upon arrival at Yokota Air Base May 1 was not infected
with the novel H1N1 influenza virus. Results of tests conducted by
Japan's National Institute for Infectious Diseases (NIID) confirmed
the infant had seasonal flu. The USFJ reported the baby had
returned to normal health and was released from isolation with the
mother May 3. Thirteen other passengers seated near the infant on
the U.S. Air Force's May 1 "Patriot Express" flight were also
released from observation May 3. The USFJ and the Embassy conveyed
to the GOJ that U.S. military installations will continue to conduct
screening for passengers entering Japan in a manner similar to those
measures implemented at Japanese civilian airports.
(Note: The USFJ initially sent virus samples from the infant to
U.S.-based labs for confirmation expected within a number of days.
Late on May 1, Japanese government officials contacted the Embassy
with an offer to test a sample at Japan's NIID. In coordination
with the Embassy, MOFA, and the Ministry of Health, USFJ delivered a
sample from the infant to NIID the morning of May 2. The NIID
confirmed the case was the "Soviet" strain of Type A influenza just
after midnight May 3. End Note).

ZUMWALT