UPDATE ON JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 OUTBREAK

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SUBJECT: UPDATE ON JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO H1N1 OUTBREAK

REF: TOKYO 00965

TOKYO 00000982 001.2 OF 002


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1. (SBU) Summary: No human cases of swine flu have been reported in
Japan. The Health Ministry raised Japan's domestic pandemic alert
April 28 to a level corresponding to an outbreak of pandemic
influenza abroad. The GOJ authorized expanded border screening to
include arrivals from the U.S. and Canada, as well as from Mexico,
but staffing constraints may preclude boarding all those arriving
flights. The GOJ is considering sending military doctors to Tokyo's
Narita Airport to assist with quarantine. The MHLW has also begun
contacting recent returnees from Mexico to assess their health. The
GOJ is advising some 6,000 Japanese living in Mexico to take
precautionary measures and to consider leaving Mexico if they
anticipate restrictions on air travel or medical care. The Prime
Minister's interagency working group decided to begin developing a
vaccine against the H1N1 virus. The Agriculture Minister continues
to emphasize to the public the safety of consuming pork and said the
GOJ considers the H1N1 outbreak to be a human infection. End
Summary.


2. (U) As of April 28, 2009 1600 local time, no human cases of Type
A H1N1 influenza (Swine Flu) have been reported in Japan. Chief
Cabinet Secretary Kawamura said no Japanese at home or abroad are
suspected to have been infected with the virus, according to media
reports.


3. (SBU) On April 28, the Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare
(MHLW) raised Japan's domestic pandemic alert level from zero to
Stage One. Stage One measures are implemented in response to an
outbreak of pandemic influenza outside Japan, according to MHLW
officials.


4. (SBU) The GOJ has expanded health screening measures at ports of
entry in line with the higher pandemic alert stage. The MHLW has
asked local health centers to contact passengers who have returned
to Japan from Mexico in the past 10 days. As of April 28, MHLW has
authorized quarantine officers to board flights arriving in Japan
from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico before allowing passengers to
deplane. However, MHLW officials noted staffing constraints may
prevent quarantine officers from boarding all arriving flights.
Medical personnel from Japan's Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF) may
be dispatched to Narita Airport as early as April 29 to assist with
possible quarantine, according to GSDF officials. Border officials
are requesting passengers and crew arriving from the U.S., Canada,
and Mexico to fill out a questionnaire providing their contact
information in Japan and are continuing to use thermographic imaging
to identify ill passengers. Japanese officials said no decision has
been made on restricting flights arriving from the U.S., Canada, and
Mexico to one of four international airports -- Narita, Kansai,
Chubu, or Fukuoka. (Note: All scheduled outbound and inbound
flights to and from the U.S. use one of Narita, Kansai, or Chubu
International Airports. End Note)


5. (U) The MOFA's Consular Bureau is urging travelers to postpone
travel to Mexico and in a MOFA statement is advising Japanese
citizens in Mexico to remain indoors, stockpile food and water, and
closely monitor their health. MOFA also suggests Japanese citizens
in Mexico consider making arrangements to depart the country before
the imposition of any restrictions on commercial travel or access to
medical facilities. Media report there are approximately 6,000
Japanese residents in Mexico.


6. (SBU) The GOJ's interagency task force PM Aso set up to deal
with the pandemic threat has, according to Health Ministry
officials, charged MHLW with developing a vaccine for the current

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H1N1 virus.


7. (SBU) Minister for Consumer Affairs Noda commented on reports
that a major restaurant chain stopped serving Mexican pork by
telling the press "pork is completely safe, so such an action is
regrettable." Agriculture Minister Ishiba said the GOJ will no
longer use the term "Swine Influenza" and stressed that the GOJ
considers the virus a human infection. Media here report Minister
Ishiba also said "it is not a good thing" that some retailers are
promoting the sale of non-Mexican pork. MHLW contacts confirmed
there are no plans to restrict pork imports into Japan.

ZUMWALT