JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO SWINE FLU OUTBREAKS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000965

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SENSITIVE
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU KSTH ECON PREL SOCI CASC EAGR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO SWINE FLU OUTBREAKS

TOKYO 00000965 001.2 OF 002


This Message is Sensitive But Unclassified. Please handle
accordingly.


1. Please note action request contained in para. 10.


2. (SBU) Summary: No human cases of swine flu have been reported in
Japan. The Japanese government, following an emergency meeting
April 25, established a special working group in the Prime
Minister's office, issued warnings to Japanese traveling to Mexico,
and stepped up health screening for travelers returning from Mexico
at Narita and Kansai international airports. The GOJ is taking
further steps to keep the public - in Japan and overseas - informed
regarding developments in North America and to prepare for a
possible outbreak here. The Agriculture Minister has told the press
the GOJ has no plans to ban pork products given that they go through
an extremely rigorous sanitization process. Japan is the world's
largest pork importer and the number one market for U.S. pork.
Meeting with the Cabinet April 27, Prime Minister Aso requested
ministers to do their utmost to protect public safety. End
Summary.


3. As of April 27, 2009 1600 local time, no human cases of Type A
H1N1 influenza (Swine Flu) have been reported in Japan.


4. (SBU) In response to the recent swine flu outbreak in North
America, Prime Minister Taro Aso instructed a GOJ interagency task
force April 25 to strengthen border control measures to prevent the
virus from entering Japan. Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare
(MHLW) officials confirmed that quarantine officers at Narita and
Kansai international airports are stepping up thermographic imaging
and physical monitoring to screen passengers arriving from Mexico.
The GOJ requested Japan Airlines (JAL) and Aero Mexico, which
operate direct flights between Mexico and Japan, to cooperate in the
screening procedures, according to press reports. Aero Mexico
officials report quarantine officers are boarding its twice-weekly
flight from Mexico before allowing passengers to deplane. The GOJ
has not requested any increased monitoring of U.S. arrivals beyond
the general screening conducted by quarantine officers, according to
MHLW and Japanese Customs officials. The MHLW has started a
telephone hotline for returnees from Mexico to report any flu-like
symptoms during the 10 days after arrival in Japan.


5. (SBU) Meeting with his Cabinet April 27, Prime Minister Aso
requested ministers to do their utmost to ensure public safety.
According to the statement issued by the PM's Office, ministers
agreed to take steps to obtain and disseminate accurate information
on the virus, support overseas Japanese citizens, prevent the virus
from entering Japan, and prepare for a possible outbreak in Japan.
The ministers also discussed production of vaccines.


6. (SBU) For outbound travelers, MHLW is distributing leaflets to
raise awareness of swine flu among Japanese visiting Mexico and the
U.S. Officials in MOFA's Consular Bureau report the Ministry issued
a swine flu travel warning and is urging travelers to reconsider
travel to Mexico. Media report at least one tour company cancelled a
package tour due to depart for Mexico April 29.


7. (SBU) Officials at Japan's Self Defense Force (SDF) report there
are no discussions of evacuating Japanese citizens from affected
countries. (Note: As part of Japan's pandemic action plan, the SDF
has a role in evacuating Japanese citizens abroad in the event of a
pandemic. End Note)


8. (SBU) While media report the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,
and Fisheries (MAFF) has instructed animal quarantine offices to
screen imports of live pigs for swine flu, there have been no
efforts to restrict imports. Agriculture Minister Shigeru Ishiba
told the press April 27 the GOJ has no plans to ban pork products

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given that they go through an extremely rigorous sanitization
process. Commenting on the swine flu outbreak on a television
program April 26, Ishiba said eating pork poses no danger of getting
the infection. (Note: Japan is the world's largest importer of pork
and the number one market for U.S. pork. Exports of U.S. pork to
Japan were $1.5 billion (447,000 metric tons) in 2008. Unlike beef,
there are currently no sanitary barriers to U.S. pork in Japan and
sales are experiencing strong growth. Mexico is Japan's fourth
largest supplier of pork with trade worth $233 million in 2008. End
Note)


9. Among Japanese companies with significant North American
operations, Toyota plans to distribute protective masks and hygiene
instructions to employees in its offices and factories in North
America, according to press reports. Sony, Panasonic, and Toshiba
have not announced any plans to take special actions.


10. Action Request: Post requests talking points for use with the
GOJ and media regarding the situation in the U.S. and on USG
response to the swine flu outbreaks, as well as any guidance for
American citizens and travelers to the U.S.
ZUMWALT