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