MGSF01 May 7 UPDATE ON JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 OUTBREAK

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SUBJECT: MGSF01 May 7 UPDATE ON JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 OUTBREAK

REF: A) TOKYO 965; B) TOKYO 982; C) TOKYO 993; D)TOKYO 1008; E)TOKYO
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1. (SBU) Summary: No human cases of Type A H1N1 influenza have been
confirmed in Japan. All previous reports of suspected H1N1 cases in
Japan in the end have tested negative for the novel virus. The
Japanese government is preparing for the possibility of the WHO
raising its pandemic alert to Phase Six. Nineteen passengers
including seven Americans were held overnight after a passenger
tested positive for Type A flu on a flight arriving from Detroit at
Nagoya May 5. The suspected case later tested negative for the H1N1
virus. On the question of Americans held in quarantine on the
suspicion of possible infection with the H1N1 virus, Japanese
government officials confirmed the Health Ministry is responsible
for notifying the Embassy. Similar procedures are in place for
notifying the Embassy of Americans who are held for observation as a
precautionary measure pending the test results of a suspected H1N1
case. The Health Ministry's notification procedures were not yet in
place at Nagoya airport May 5. The GOJ's health screening
procedures have been delaying arriving U.S. passengers by an average
of 50 minutes, but can take as long as two hours. Airlines say the
GOJ continues to communicate with them on its strict border
screening measures, but see opportunities for the GOJ to improve
delays with the end of peak travel around the Golden Week holidays.
End Summary.


2. (U) As of May 7, 2009 1700 local time, no human cases of the
novel Type A H1N1 influenza have been confirmed in Japan.

3. (U) Media reported Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura said Japan
may not be able to remain free of H1N1 cases and it should prepare
for the WHO to raise the pandemic alert to Phase Six. Health
Minister Masuzoe criticized hospitals that refused to admit patients
suffering from fever due to H1N1 fears. According to press reports,
the Minister added the practice is against Japan's Medical
Practitioners Law.

4. (SBU) Nineteen passengers, including seven Americans, were held
overnight after a passenger tested positive for Type A flu on NWA
flight 71 arriving at Nagoya from Detroit May 5. The suspected case
was later determined not to be the novel H1N1 virus. The 19
passengers were kept under observation onboard the aircraft and at
the airport for six hours before being moved to a nearby hotel for
the night. Family members of detained Americans told emboff that
Nagoya airport officials allowed passengers to use a GOJ mobile
telephone to place short outbound calls. Hotel staff told emboff
they had been instructed by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and
Welfare (MHLW) not to forward incoming calls to detainees in their
rooms, but rather to relay calls to MHLW. All passengers were
released the morning of May 6 after the suspected case was confirmed
to be negative for H1N1. (Note: Health Ministry officials told
emboffs the GOJ will pay for hotel and food for passengers delayed
by such procedures and that a limited number of prepaid mobile
phones are available for detained passengers to make short calls.
End Note.)

5. (SBU) Officials at MHLW told emboffs May 7 that the Ministry
should notify the Embassy of an American anywhere in Japan who is
either suspected of being infected with the H1N1 virus or held for
observation pending further test results of a suspected H1N1
carrier. These procedures were not yet in place at Nagoya airport
May 5, according to MHLW officials. Quarantine officers are
required to detain passengers seated within two meters of a
suspected H1N1 case in a designated facility within or close to the
airport until a PCR test is completed on a suspected case, according

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to Health Ministry officials.


6. (SBU) Foreign Ministry officials confirmed MHLW is responsible
for notifying the appropriate embassy should a foreigner be
suspected of being infected with H1N1 flu. However, MHLW will
notify embassies about other passengers held for observation only
"if they feel it is necessary," according to MOFA officials. United
States military health officials on Okinawa said they believe the
Naha Quarantine office will uphold a longstanding arrangement to
notify Lester Naval Hospital if a SOFA status individual is detained
for health screening arriving at Naha International Airport. MOFA
informed the Embassy on May 5 when a U.S. service member sitting
near a suspect passenger was temporarily segregated at Kansai
International Airport. The service member was released after
several hours, but missed his connecting flight. The GOJ paid for
his hotel expenses.


7. (SBU) Officials from U.S. airlines operating in Japan said
onboard health checks for arriving U.S. flights typically last
between 20 minutes to two hours, with an average delay of 50
minutes. Airline officials said Japan's screening measures are
"more aggressive" than in most countries, but added the GOJ
communicates well with foreign airlines and, unlike in China, "there
have been few surprises." Officials said airport quarantine
offices, backed up by medical personnel from Japan's Self Defense
Force, were fully staffed to cope with peak travel over Japan's May
2-6 Golden Week holidays. Officials added they would like the GOJ
to maintain quarantine officer staffing after the holiday period in
order to reduce delays caused by health screening procedures.
Airline officials also noted delays in receiving approval from
quarantine officials for passengers to disembark, even after all
passengers are cleared of flu symptoms.


8. (SBU) Embassy is following up with Japanese officials to improve
communications with Amcits who may be quarantined and to urge the
GOJ to improve their notification, in English, of the possibility
travelers may be delayed.

ZUMWALT