MGSF01 May 11 UPDATE ON JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 OUTBREAK

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SUBJECT: MGSF01 May 11 UPDATE ON JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 OUTBREAK

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1. (SBU) Summary: Four human cases of Type A H1N1 influenza have
been confirmed in Japan. All four were among a Japanese school
group that arrived at Narita Airport on a flight May 8 from Detroit
following a school trip to Canada; and are being treated in
isolation at medical facilities near Narita Airport. Eight
Americans are among 48 other passengers from the flight who are
being held in isolation for ten days at an airport hotel. Four
additional American passengers submitted to voluntary confinement at
their Kyoto hotel after local officials determined they had been
seated near an affected passenger on the May 8 flight. The Embassy
has contacted several of the Americans held in isolation and
confirmed they are able to communicate with outside contacts and
have Embassy contact information should they require further
assistance. United States Forces Japan and the Embassy have
established lines of communication with the Foreign and Health
Ministries regarding H1N1 virus sample testing and the tracking of
those SOFA status personnel subject to health monitoring or
isolation. The GOJ contacted the Embassy May 11 regarding a U.S.
service member who was seated on a flight to Narita Airport near a
Chinese national who later tested positive in China for the H1N1
virus. There are reports of local governments and private companies
limiting access to facilities for individuals who have recently
arrived from the U.S., Canada, or Mexico due to H1N1 concerns. End
Summary.


2. (U) As of May 11, 2009 1700 local time, four human cases of the
novel Type A H1N1 influenza have been confirmed in Japan.


3. (SBU) Two Japanese students and a teacher traveling home from
Oakville, Ontario with an Osaka school group tested positive for
H1N1 influenza May 9 after arriving at Narita Airport from Detroit
on a Northwest Airlines flight May 8. A fourth passenger who showed
no flu symptoms upon arrival, but was held for observation by
quarantine officials and later reported symptoms, tested positive
for the H1N1 virus May 11, according to press reports. All four
passengers are being treated at medical facilities near Narita
Airport. Health Ministry officials said May 9 that 48 other
passengers on the flight, including the students and teachers in the
school group and 14 other passengers and crew, will be held in
isolation for ten days at a Narita hotel while their health is
monitored for flu symptoms. Local health clinics will contact and
conduct follow up checks on all other passengers who remained in
Japan. Media reported 193 of the 409 passengers and crew members on
the flight transferred Narita Airport for foreign destinations.


4. (SBU) Health Ministry officials notified emboffs May 9 that
eight Americans, who were seated within two meters of the affected
passengers, are among the 48 passengers who will be held in
isolation for the ten day monitoring period. Two active-duty
military service members are among the Americans held. The Embassy
contacted one of the Americans held in quarantine May 10 and two
others on May 11 and confirmed they are able to call family and
outside contacts, as well as the Embassy should they require further
assistance. The Americans said Northwest Airlines is paying for
their telephone calls up to 100 dollars per day.


5. (SBU) According to the Kyoto City Health and Welfare Bureau, 13
Americans who were passengers on the May 8 Northwest flight
voluntarily agreed to remain confined to their Kyoto hotel rooms May
10 while city officials determined how closely they were seated to

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affected passengers. Among the Americans were 11 university
students and a professor scheduled to tour Kyoto and Nara and then
return to the U.S. May 21. Kyoto City officials told Consulate
Osaka Officers May 11 that they had asked four members of the
university group to remain in confinement for the remainder of the
ten day monitoring period until May 18. (Note: Health Ministry
officials told emboffs May 11 that, according to Japan's quarantine
law, GOJ border officials are authorized to detain suspected H1N1
cases upon arrival in Japan, but local governments must rely on
voluntary or cooperative detention for individuals who have already
entered Japan. End Note.) City officials said May 11 that the
other nine Americans were free to leave confinement. Officials said
the confined Americans were able to communicate with family and
friends and have contact information for Consulate Osaka should they
need further assistance.


6. (SBU) Emboffs met May 11 with U.S. Forces Japan medical officers
and officials from the Health and Foreign Ministries to establish
lines of communication for notification of suspected H1N1 cases on
U.S. bases and virus sample testing at GOJ and local laboratories.
Health Ministry officials said local government health research
centers have the capability and primary responsibility to test
samples for the H1N1 virus. Japan's National Institute of
Infectious Diseases (NIID) will receive virus samples
simultaneously, but will only test samples if the results from local
labs are inconclusive. The NIID officials said the institute is
focusing maximum resources on developing an H1N1 vaccine. Health
Ministry officials emphasized that local governments are also
responsible for monitoring the health of individuals who arrive from
the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for a ten day period and for tracking
down those who require isolation. GOJ officials said they will
notify the Embassy about SOFA status individuals who arrive at
civilian airports on flights with possible H1N1 cases. Officials
did so later May 11 regarding a U.S. service member who arrived at
Narita Airport after being seated next to a Chinese national who
later tested positive in China as China's first confirmed H1N1 case.



7. (SBU) Two American professors from California told Consulate
Osaka officers that Sakai City officials had asked them not to come
for their scheduled meetings at Sakai City Hall, as the building was
not accepting visitors from the US, Canada and Mexico due to H1N1
Influenza concerns. The professors said the city decided to send
representatives to meet with the professors at their hotel. A
recently returned participant in State's International Visitor
Program was told by his employer, the company that operates Kansai
International Airport, to remain at home for ten days due to
concerns of H1N1 influenza. Mission has no information, however, to
suggest that these are anything but isolated cases.

ZUMWALT