Gov't to tighten quarantine, immigration checks to prevent entry of swine flu

Monday 27th April, 09:53 AM JST

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14 Comments

wibble at 08:58 AM JST - 27th April

"it will stress that government ministries and agencies must cooperate closely to prevent the entry and spread of swine flu in Japan while enhancing coordination with international organizations, according to government sources."

So specifically - what is the government planning? Don't tell me after SARS that governments don't have off the rack plans that cover 90% of these contingencies....
neverknow2 at 09:18 AM JST - 27th April

Their plan is to make the swine flu apologize then pay a fine. Then it can go back to doing whatever it is, that it normally does.
wibble at 09:37 AM JST - 27th April

:) that made me smile on a Monday morning, never an easy thing to do
jacqueshellacque at 10:10 AM JST - 27th April

How many Japanese came down with SARS?
IvanCoughalot at 10:23 AM JST - 27th April

Another gobful of meaningless platitudes, and that's all you need here. Once you educate people not to ask questions or engage critical thought, this swill looks like a policy.

What are you going to do, Mr Aso? Tell us how you will protect us from an airborne virus in a densely-populated city, where nobody covers their mouth when they're coughing and snotting in an airproof train.
NuckinFutz at 10:23 AM JST - 27th April

Panic! Close borders! Don't let anyone in or out! Okay, let them out but make them promise never to return to Japan.
Samuraiiki at 12:33 PM JST - 27th April

If you came from Mexico, just do not mention it. Just say Los Angeles. That is what your ticket will show anyway.
Beelzebub at 01:41 PM JST - 27th April

In the age of modern air travel, there is no containing these things. But humans are as tough and prolific as rats and cockroaches. It's going to take something a lot worse than this to make a significant dent in the world population.
some14some at 02:00 PM JST - 27th April

Govt/businesses should re-schedule Golden Week Holidays, one of the most effective measures...!
Apsara at 02:01 PM JST - 27th April

"Tighten immigration controls" Significant words from an insignificant government. In other words, this swine flu will be used as another means to attack and humiliate innocent foreigners arriving in Japan. I also predict that it will be used within Japan to restrict the movements of us nasty, disease ridden, foreigners who reside here.

During the 1918-1920 swine flu pandemic many governments took steps to tighten immigration controls and successfully avoided huge numbers of fatalities in their countries. Countries that didn't take such measures had a much higher percentage of deaths. It's hardly an unreasonable thing to tighten immigration controls to prevent the spread of serious illness. I think you can be pretty sure that the controls will apply to Japanese people as well.
alcap1 at 04:07 PM JST - 27th April

This very well could be the big one, millions at risk ! Especially in Japan, crowded living conditions and third world medical practices could devastate the population.

For example, get a load of this,

"Kawamura said, ‘‘The nature of swine flu is still uncertain. The public’s lives will be affected significantly if it enters Japan and infection spreads.’’

Well, yes and no ! The nature of this swine flu is known, it's deadly amongst the healthies populations aged 25-45 ! Frightening !
elbudamexicano at 11:14 PM JST - 27th April

Many Mexicans, even if they have money, can not buy masks now, they have run out in many pharmacies (chemists in Kiwi) please donate masks to the Mexican embassy here in Tokyo to send to Mexico. Muchas gracias!
zaichik at 06:05 AM JST - 28th April

It does remind me of the SARS panic. I'm hoping it will fizzle out in much the same way....
elbudamexicano at 06:07 AM JST - 28th April

During the SARS epidemic, Japan was very, very LUCKY, it somehow skipped Japan and actually had more cases in Canada. This time we may not be so lucky. Time for masks, washing hands, face, avoiding large crowds etc..time to use common sense in this global era.