Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO1449
2009-06-26 05:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN'S GOVERNMENT REVISES H1N1 INFLUENZA GUIDANCE
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001449
DEPT FOR OES/IHB AMB 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
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR AESC CASC TBIO PREL MG EAGR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S GOVERNMENT REVISES H1N1 INFLUENZA GUIDANCE
REF: TOKYO 1171 and previous
TOKYO 00001449 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001449
DEPT FOR OES/IHB AMB 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
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR AESC CASC TBIO PREL MG EAGR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S GOVERNMENT REVISES H1N1 INFLUENZA GUIDANCE
REF: TOKYO 1171 and previous
TOKYO 00001449 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) Summary: The Japanese Government revised its guidelines for
responding to H1N1 influenza outbreaks June 19. Acknowledging the
difficulty in using border controls to keep the H1N1 virus from
entering Japan, the GOJ will, in many cases, allow arriving
passengers with flu symptoms to enter the country without a
quarantine period and to recover and await test results at home or
at their hotels. Local governments will follow up regarding medical
care and self-isolation measures with patients who test positive for
H1N1. To prepare for a possible second wave of H1N1 this fall, the
GOJ designed its guidance to focus on finding patients swiftly and
treating those with severe symptoms. While hospitalization will
likely only be required for serious cases, the GOJ has stipulated
all medical institutions should be willing to accept flu patients
unless the facility determines patients the facility is already
caring for would be put at risk. End Summary.
--------------
Basic Guidelines
--------------
2. (U) Japan's government issued revised guidelines June 19
updating and consolidating earlier guidance for responding to H1N1.
The GOJ's revised guidance emphasizes four basic principles: 1)
Giving patients with severe symptoms priority for hospital beds and
treatment; 2) Preventing in-hospital transmission of the virus; 3)
Closely monitoring for any virus mutations and outbreak trends of
both seasonal and novel influenza strains; and 4) Implementing
public health measures to limit the spread of the infection. The
GOJ intends to review these guidelines if the virus exhibits
significant changes or mutations.
--------------
Border Procedures
--------------
3. (U) The GOJ plans to raise awareness of H1N1 influenza among
individuals entering Japan by distributing information at the ports
of entry quarantine areas. Authorities will continue to request
passengers report any symptoms and will conduct on-board quarantine
checks in cases where passengers exhibiting possible symptoms are
present. However, border officials will not require a Polymer Chain
Reaction (PCR) exam for arriving passengers with flu symptoms, but
rather will allow them to enter the country and recover and await
test results at home or at their hotels. Those exhibiting flu
symptoms may be requested to use non-public transportation and wear
a mask en route from the port of entry to their residence. Should
several people in a group of travelers exhibit symptoms, quarantine
authorities will conduct a preliminary test and a PCR exam. During
testing, however, patients will be allowed to go home or to their
hotels. Local governments will follow up with patients who test
positive for H1N1 regarding medical care and self-isolation
measures.
--------------
Local Government and Medical Response
--------------
4. (U) The GOJ's revised guidance calls on local governments to
request infected patients and those having close contact with
patients to self-monitor and recover at home. Local government
health authorities should provide a PCR test and anti-viral drugs at
an early stage to patients with underlying health conditions.
Hospitalization will be available if necessary. Call centers will
provide information on hospitals accepting patients and consult
those recovering at home.
TOKYO 00001449 002.2 OF 002
5. (U) The revised guidance notes all medical institutions should
admit people with flu symptoms, but are advised to create a separate
waiting area or separate service hours. While hospitalization is
seen to be unnecessary for the majority of H1N1 flu patients, those
with severe symptoms should be able to seek care at any medical
institution, not just designated hospitals. However, local
governments can direct certain medical institutions, such as cancer
institutes or obstetrical institutes, to refuse flu patients if
their current patients would be put at risk. Local governments will
continue to request schools in which students are infected to close
if necessary.
ZUMWALT
DEPT FOR OES/IHB AMB 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
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR AESC CASC TBIO PREL MG EAGR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S GOVERNMENT REVISES H1N1 INFLUENZA GUIDANCE
REF: TOKYO 1171 and previous
TOKYO 00001449 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) Summary: The Japanese Government revised its guidelines for
responding to H1N1 influenza outbreaks June 19. Acknowledging the
difficulty in using border controls to keep the H1N1 virus from
entering Japan, the GOJ will, in many cases, allow arriving
passengers with flu symptoms to enter the country without a
quarantine period and to recover and await test results at home or
at their hotels. Local governments will follow up regarding medical
care and self-isolation measures with patients who test positive for
H1N1. To prepare for a possible second wave of H1N1 this fall, the
GOJ designed its guidance to focus on finding patients swiftly and
treating those with severe symptoms. While hospitalization will
likely only be required for serious cases, the GOJ has stipulated
all medical institutions should be willing to accept flu patients
unless the facility determines patients the facility is already
caring for would be put at risk. End Summary.
--------------
Basic Guidelines
--------------
2. (U) Japan's government issued revised guidelines June 19
updating and consolidating earlier guidance for responding to H1N1.
The GOJ's revised guidance emphasizes four basic principles: 1)
Giving patients with severe symptoms priority for hospital beds and
treatment; 2) Preventing in-hospital transmission of the virus; 3)
Closely monitoring for any virus mutations and outbreak trends of
both seasonal and novel influenza strains; and 4) Implementing
public health measures to limit the spread of the infection. The
GOJ intends to review these guidelines if the virus exhibits
significant changes or mutations.
--------------
Border Procedures
--------------
3. (U) The GOJ plans to raise awareness of H1N1 influenza among
individuals entering Japan by distributing information at the ports
of entry quarantine areas. Authorities will continue to request
passengers report any symptoms and will conduct on-board quarantine
checks in cases where passengers exhibiting possible symptoms are
present. However, border officials will not require a Polymer Chain
Reaction (PCR) exam for arriving passengers with flu symptoms, but
rather will allow them to enter the country and recover and await
test results at home or at their hotels. Those exhibiting flu
symptoms may be requested to use non-public transportation and wear
a mask en route from the port of entry to their residence. Should
several people in a group of travelers exhibit symptoms, quarantine
authorities will conduct a preliminary test and a PCR exam. During
testing, however, patients will be allowed to go home or to their
hotels. Local governments will follow up with patients who test
positive for H1N1 regarding medical care and self-isolation
measures.
--------------
Local Government and Medical Response
--------------
4. (U) The GOJ's revised guidance calls on local governments to
request infected patients and those having close contact with
patients to self-monitor and recover at home. Local government
health authorities should provide a PCR test and anti-viral drugs at
an early stage to patients with underlying health conditions.
Hospitalization will be available if necessary. Call centers will
provide information on hospitals accepting patients and consult
those recovering at home.
TOKYO 00001449 002.2 OF 002
5. (U) The revised guidance notes all medical institutions should
admit people with flu symptoms, but are advised to create a separate
waiting area or separate service hours. While hospitalization is
seen to be unnecessary for the majority of H1N1 flu patients, those
with severe symptoms should be able to seek care at any medical
institution, not just designated hospitals. However, local
governments can direct certain medical institutions, such as cancer
institutes or obstetrical institutes, to refuse flu patients if
their current patients would be put at risk. Local governments will
continue to request schools in which students are infected to close
if necessary.
ZUMWALT