VZCZCXRO0674
OO RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKO #1171 1420723
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 220723Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3190
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO CITY 0635
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5458
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9439
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 4169
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 1774
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 6503
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 7971
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 4700
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3536
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5209
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 8636
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/USFJ

UNCLAS TOKYO 001171 
 
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 UPDATE ON H1N1 OUTBREAK IN JAPAN 
 
REF: TOKYO 1161 and previous 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary: Cases of H1N1 infection were reported in previously 
unaffected areas in Japan, although only in isolated cases.  One 
additional case was reported in Tokyo City in a woman who returned 
from the United States May 19.  The GOJ implemented a new policy to 
respond to the less virulent H1N1 influenza May 22.  The new policy 
allows for more flexible responses to minimize the impact on daily 
activity.  The new policy eliminated most of the airport screening 
and isolation procedures.  As of May 22 0800, the GOJ halted 
on-board screenings for flights from the U.S., Canada and Mexico, 
unless there is a passenger having H1N1 influenza-like symptoms on 
board.  The GOJ also ended the practice of sequestering passengers 
who sat near an infected person, and monitoring by telephone of 
passengers on flights with infected passengers.  Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Kawamura sought to play down the threat by comparing H1N1 
to seasonal flu in remarks to the press.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) As of May 22, 2009 10:00 local time, media report 294 
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) Individuals infected with the H1N1 influenza were confirmed 
in six prefectures including Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Kanagawa and 
Saitama.  The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed the second 
case of H1N1 in Tokyo City May 21.  The subject, a woman in her 30s 
living in Meguro-ward of Tokyo, traveled to Florida and San 
Francisco from May 6 to 18 and developed a high fever after 
returning to Tokyo May 19 on NW flight 27.  The first H1N1 case was 
confirmed in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo May 20.  A 29-year old 
man developed a high fever after returning to Saitama from Osaka and 
Kyoto May 19.  A 10-year old boy living in Kyoto, who had not 
traveled outside of that region, is reported to be that city's first 
confirmed case of H1N1. 
 
¶4.  (U) The GOJ implemented a new policy to respond to the less 
virulent H1N1 influenza May 22.  The new policy allows for more 
flexible responses to minimize the impact on daily activity.  The 
previous policy was set to address the more virulent H5N1 virus and 
called for more stringent measures for affected areas.  The new 
policy sets out different guidelines for responding to an outbreak 
depending on the number of cases and spread of the disease.  In 
general, the measures are less stringent than the previous 
guidelines, such as allowing patients in stable condition to remain 
at home and only closing schools with confirmed cases of the virus. 
 
¶5.  (U) The new policy eliminated most of the airport screening and 
isolation procedures.  As of May 22 0800, the GOJ halted on-board 
screenings for flights from the U.S., Canada and Mexico, unless 
there is a passenger having H1N1 influenza-like symptoms on board. 
The GOJ also ended the practice of sequestering for seven days 
passengers who sat near an infected person, and the seven day 
monitoring by telephone of passengers on flights with infected 
passengers. 
 
¶6.  (U) Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told reporters the 
virus should be considered more like a seasonal flu than a more 
deadly disease such as Avian influenza or SARS, at a May 22 press 
conference.  He advised people to remain cautious but calm. 
ZUMWALT