MGSF01 October 23 UPDATE ON H1N1 OUTBREAK IN JAPAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002445 UNCLAS TOKYO 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 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU AEMR AESC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR AMGT, MG, EAGR, JA SUBJECT: MGSF01 October 23 UPDATE ON H1N1 OUTBREAK IN JAPAN REF: TOKYO 2293 and previous TOKYO 00002445 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Summary: H1N1 vaccinations of medical professionals have begun in Japan, while the disease continues to spread throughout the country with an estimated 640,000 people with flu-like symptoms visiting medical institutions across Japan from October 5 to 11. More than 80 percent of these patients were minors. Twenty-eight people have died from the virus to date in Japan, including five children. Thousands of schools have closed temporarily and events have been cancelled throughout the country. Reports show that the regional economic impact of H1N1, especially on the tourism industry, was significant this past summer. Antivirus coatings on airport luggage carts and elevator buttons, a titanium dioxide coated suit, and air purifiers which claim to be effective against the H1N1 virus are among the innovative approaches to limiting spread of the disease seen in Japan. Regional officials report the public is wary of imported vaccine and expect vaccination rates to drop once domestically produced vaccine runs out. End Summary. VACCINATIONS BEGIN -------------- ¶2. Some local and regional authorities began vaccinating medical workers in the past week. The Tokyo area is expected to begin vaccinating medical professionals on October 26. In accordance with the priority ranking in the national vaccination policy (reftel), hospitals plan to begin vaccinating pregnant women and those with chronic diseases, followed by infants and small children in November and December. Parents of infants will begin receiving vaccine early next year. Health officials announced that this schedule could be accelerated since medical experts in Japan have agreed that a single dose is enough for medical professionals. LATEST INFECTION FIGURES AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES -------------- --- ¶3. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) announced that an estimated 640,000 people with flu-like symptoms visited medical institutions across Japan from October 5 to 11, the latest reporting period. More than 80 percent of these patients were minors. The figures indicate a significant increase in flu infections among elementary and junior high school students. The total number of people infected with influenza since July totals 2.34 million, most of whom are thought to be infected with H1N1. Twenty-eight people have died in Japan from H1N1 thus far, including five children. ¶4. Based on data from a reporting network of 5000 hospitals and clinics, Hokkaido prefecture had the highest infection rate at nearly 40 patients per institution, followed by Aichi and Fukuoka with 24, Kanagawa with 22, Okinawa with 20, Tokyo with 19, and Osaka with 17. ¶5. 8534 schools were closed during the week of October 12, and many school events cancelled, as infections reach established thresholds. The Kansai regional economy lost $1.47 billion from May to August 2009 due to H1N1, with the hotel and transportation businesses hardest hit, according to a survey by the Kansai Economic Federation. Consulate Fukuoka, the consular district with the third highest infection rate in Japan, reports that patients with flu-like symptoms have waited as long as six hours to see a doctor. INNOVATIVE MEASURES TO STOP H1N1 TOKYO 00002445 002.2 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. Innovative antivirus concepts continue to appear in Japan. Kansai International Airport has applied a special antivirus coating to the handles of baggage carts, elevator button panels, restroom doors, counters, and toilet stalls in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. The Daikin Corporation claims that its air purifier technology is effective against H1N1, while the Haruyama Trading Company released a titanium-dioxide coated men's suit early in October that it claims wards off the H1N1 virus. ¶7. In mid-October the Health Affairs Officer met with a number of regional public health officials in the Kyushu region, who said that the public is wary of imported vaccine. They expect that many will opt not to be vaccinated with foreign-produced vaccine once domestically-produced vaccine runs out, as it is expected to next spring. ROOS