Posted on 04/29/2009 1:10:46 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
Original report just issued on web in Japanese. English translation not up yet; synopsizing here for Free Republic.
Upshot is that Japanese pandemic-tracking organization (per Japanese link) is bundling this Mexican swing flu into a threat coming from both MEXICO and the UNITED STATES, and as such more than likely the flu will be officially named "The North American Influenza" in due time. (理的由来から名づけられており、このため、このインフルエンザは「北アメリカインフルエンザ（North American influenza）」と呼ばれることが理にかなっているだろう。 )
Additional observations:
1) Japanese Border Inspection authorities (at airports and ports) are stringently inspecting each aircraft coming either from Mexico, or the United States with travelers from Mexico. Protection-suited up health specialists with googles, operation masks, gloves, etc. are entering the aircraft on the ground before passengers are let off. They are checking in with each passenger, they are disenfecting passengers' hands, they are passing out questionnaires, they are scanning passengers with body thermal devices. The Japanese foreign ministry is urging Japanese NOT to travel to Mexico. Flight cancellations to Mexico and some to parts of the US are dropping considerably.
2) Japanese news agencies are starting to puzzlingly report such things as i) the cavalier attitude of US health and border officials "passively" monitoring ingress of persons from Mexico, the very country this threat has broken out in with high deaths; ii) no travel bans to/from Mexico or closing of the US border with Mexico for the security of the United States, iii) reactions of returning Japanese travelers (they are shown on camera) who are reporting that they were just waved through while transiting the US from Mexico (Atlanta, Los Angeles, other cities) but then dealt with strictly upon arriving in Tokyo, (most said that while they were shocked or shook up a bit by seeing the dramatic difference between Japan and American border/immigration authorities once they landed and personnel came on board a/c immediately denied disembarkment, most accepted it as necessary and said that in essence it actually gave them some sense of relief) showing a real gap between how Japan is handling the crisis and how Washington is ordering their local health and immigration offices.
Japan network TV showed yesterday footage of a long line of northbound Mexicans lined up at San Ysidro--or perhaps it was Juarez at the border turnstiles, not a few without masks, just coming through without active checks by US officials there.
Various photos in Japan yesterday at airports handling arriving US and Mexican flights (little frames are at Narita Airport or even on board the flights from US when they arrive, yesterday)
Item of Curiosity: Japan and Mexico have festivities in May and June planned to celebrate 400 years of contact and 150 years of bilateral diplomatic relations, but these events are ALL BEING CANCELLED, including homestays for Japanese to Mexico and Mexicans to Japan. The authorities say they regret and apologize the cancellations, but for the safety of the Japanese people they have no choice but such strict action to isolate Japan as best as possible.
CenterInfo Infectious Disease Surveillance Center (IDSC) National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku-ku, TOKYO, 162-8640, JAPAN
(Personal take: Even if cases of this flu DO break here in Japan, this will only cause Japan to ramp up measures even further. The last thing you are going to here from Japanese health and government officials is something like 'well, it is already here, so border enforcement is ineffective so we will continue on a passive survellience mode'. There is no such political correctness in Japan, nor would any such national-suicidal insanity be be tolerated by at least 95% of the Japanese electorate.
Ping!
I have to admit Japan is doing things the right way unlike our emasculated government of elites, which are probably hunkered in bomb shelters under a famous Resort and Hotel.
A great comparative template between action and incompetence.
If you want my idea for a new topic for the Tea Parties, this has got to be it, and least the phone lines in the USA should be burning up the White House, I.C.E./DHS and the CDC about US borders and basic public health.
That’s it. I’m relocating to Japan....
ps surgical masks seem to be starting to sell out over here, i talked to a nearby Japanese pharmacist just three hours ago....also, just from watching subway/train behavior, people are starting to put them on in regular public situations, i have NEVER seen this in early May in such warm weather before. folks are erring on the side of overreaction--probably good that they are too much on guard rather than not enough on guard
thanks. forgot all about that. i think that was the GHWB theme song, too
Oh what fun you can have with a can of vegetable soup and some hacking sounds. Will clear you an area real quick.
“Just shop, baby!”
oh, there is no shortage of stuff to buy here, i can tell you that! ;-) even window shopping and not spending a yen after four hours could make you delirious at all the gadjets, food, clothes, trinkets, etc. on display
After 9/11, the main message seemed to be "just shop!"
With the economy in the dumps and fear of another hit due to this flu thing, the U.S. and Mexico seem to be singing the same tune.
The WHO is actually encouraging people to keep travelling.
Japanese love a good overreaction. Their prudence at the border is much better than Napolitano’s “meh, its already here”. But it is quite comical to watch the Japanese in the face of extremely unlikely disaster.
They remember “Asian” flu. Payback’s a murfur.
That’s fine with me!!!
How about the dogs?
;)
Where I go, they go....
Good reaction overall, but why do I get the feeling NORTH American Flu is inevitably going to get shorted to AMERICAN Flu?
MEXICAN FLU!
MEXICAN FLU!
MEXICAN FLU!
Driving home last night and thinking that most folks are the ‘it's a no big deal’ mentality yet, I stopped at the drugstore to purchase a few items. All of the medical grade masks were sold-out. Repeat: all of the medical grade masks were sold out. Wandered over to their paint section and the painters dust masks were still available...a whole 5 of them.
This morning on the radio they were saying they have activated the Red Cross Disaster Response teams in Ohio and the National Guard is on Alert to begin receiving supplies. The Red Cross spokesperson talked about what their role and activities will be in the event of a full blown quarantine. They include vaccine and mask distribution and even food delivery for those house confined.
I am trying not to panic, but the poor response by our government to this obvious threat isn't helping matters at all. I have food for months, not just a week. I have charcoal respirator cartridge masks and asst. cartridges from particulate to chemicals. I have a small stockpile of toilet paper and some housebound cash. So if I find myself in a worst case scenario I'll be just fine.
But...all of that still doesn't or isn't calming my fears. I am scared, really borderline flippin’ out scared. I broke down in tears driving home last night from the drugstore. Prevailing thought that prompted those tears? All the masks being sold out over the weekend. I am 47 years old and have never been through anything like this, nor has most of our country. I left the EHS business 5 years ago so I understand a lot about contaminates and decon procedures. Been there done that from chemicals to radiation, but this situation is scaring the daylights out of me.
This situation has been developing since Feb. in Mexico. And our government took no precautions, but instead we were too busy playing American Idol with Barack. Sorry for this rambling post...I'll go try to calm down now.
Basically the Mexicans are doing something wrong. This 'pandemic' is anything but.
I did it 23 years ago .
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