MGSF01 UPDATE ON H1N1 OUTBREAK IN JAPAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001161 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 UPDATE ON H1N1 OUTBREAK IN JAPAN REF: TOKYO 1150 and previous TOKYO 00001161 001.2 OF 002 Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle accordingly. This Message is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Japanese authorities confirmed the first two cases of A H1N1 influenza in Tokyo and its neighbor city, Kawasaki (in Kanagawa Prefecture) the evening of May 20. Two students, who attend the same high school in Kawasaki, returned to the Tokyo area from New York May 19, and tested positive for H1N1 the following day. Neither locality plans to close schools or restrict public events, although at least one Tokyo area international school plans to close for the day on May 22. Ten Americans are among 17 passengers who sat near the students. Japanese officials are attempting to contact them to monitor their health. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura announced the GOJ has no plan to raise the domestic alert level in response to the two new cases. End Summary. ¶2. (U) As of May 21, 2009 1300 local time, media report 281 confirmed human cases of the novel Type A H1N1 influenza in Japan. No H1N1 influenza deaths have been reported. There are no reports of H1N1 infection among Americans in Japan. ¶3. (U) The Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced May 20 a student who returned to Tokyo from the United States May 19 had tested positive for the H1N1 virus, making her the first case reported in the Tokyo area. Later in the evening of May 20, Kawasaki City Government reported that another student living in Kawasaki also tested positive for H1N1. The two students attend the same high school in Kawasaki. They visited New York from May 11 to 18 to attend the National Model United Nations conference together with four students and a teacher from the same high school and 10 students from five other schools in Tokyo, as well as Kanagawa and Chiba Prefectures. They arrived at Narita Airport May 19 via Continental Airlines Flight 09. The students reported symptoms, including fever during the flight, but were negative for A and B influenza in a primary test at the airport. After they reached home, they developed a high fever and reported to local health authorities who confirmed infection with H1N1. ¶4. (U) The press reported there were 17 passengers sitting near the two students on the flight, including six Japanese, ten Americans, and one Spaniard. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will contact them to monitor their health and ask them to stay at home. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura announced the GOJ has no plan to raise the domestic alert level in response to the new cases. ¶5. (U) Prior to travelling to New York, the students' high school instructed them to stay at home for 10 days after returning to Japan. Thus, neither of the students had gone to class before being diagnosed with the virus. However, the high school decided to close its group schools for seven days. Neither Tokyo nor Kawasaki is planning to close public schools or restrict public events at this stage. ¶6. (SBU) A student at the Chofu campus of American School in Japan, who returned from the U.S. on the same plane as the two students infected with H1N1, reported flu-like symptoms the morning of May 21, but tested negative for the virus later in the day. At least one international school in the Tokyo area announced plans to close on May 22 and cancelled some extra curricular activities. TOKYO 00001161 002.2 OF 002 ZUMWALT