VZCZCXRO7759
OO RUEHAST RUEHDH RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHSL RUEHTM
RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKO #2445/01 2960101
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 230101Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7012
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO CITY 0649
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8191
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1533
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 7057
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4315
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9412
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0875
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7569
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3608
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7715
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 8658
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/USFJ

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