Passengers pass under a monitor displaying a notice regarding swine flu at the immigration gates at Narita international airport. REUTERS

Japan gears up for swine flu with businesses, airports, hospitals on alert

Tuesday 28th April, 04:30 PM JST

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usaexpat at 11:41 PM JST - 28th April

Telecastplayer: I totally agree I posted the other day "when in doubt freak out" about this uproar. Look people you have a better chance of getting hit by a bus. This flu just happens to be a gift to stupid politicians around the world so people have something else to worry about other than their F-ups.
usaexpat at 11:43 PM JST - 28th April

One more question, how much more of my time is this going to waste when I fly into Narita from Chicago next week? I should be showing elevated temperature as I'll probably already be in a rage before I get to the customs desk.
jessssicaaa at 12:09 AM JST - 29th April

Yay! Lets give the world an excuse to cause every paranoid person out there to become even more paranoid ;D woo! id suggest stay calm ^^

Swine Flu What is Swine Influenza? Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs.

How common is swine flu infection in humans? In the past, approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every one to two years. But from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans? The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork? No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food.

How does swine flu spread? This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people, which is mainly person-to-person transmission through coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

;D some small facts ^^
ant721 at 12:17 AM JST - 29th April

It would be a good idea to stockup on supplies, food and water, etc. At least enough that you would'nt have to go out in public for a week or two.
jessssicaaa at 12:19 AM JST - 29th April

Lostine - I did not know that. But Japan just sent the medicine to Mexico. Well, if so, It is going to be only matter of time that swine flu comes to Japan.

Thats true, they havent found a medicine to cure swine flu yet, they say it might take up to 6months or more to make it
OhioDonna at 01:25 AM JST - 29th April

Give me a mask. We have a few case here in the US and that includes the state in which i reside.
Mark_McCracken at 04:56 AM JST - 29th April

One more question, how much more of my time is this going to waste when I fly into Narita from Chicago next week?

By next week, I bet you'll be able to deplane between 20 and 40 minutes after landing.
grafton at 06:12 AM JST - 29th April

jessssicaaa at 12:09 AM JST - 29th April

Thank you for saying what the press should be saying. Given the time frame I would reason that this “flu” has by now managed to get to most places around the world & really playing games at airports & seaports is going to be of marginal help in limiting the spread. On the other hand it is better than sitting back & doing nothing & if this thing really does go global in a bad way we might wish all the world governments had been a little more paranoid earlier. I’ll go for paranoia any day if the alternative is a serious dangerous infection that can kill, we can all get over our paranoia, we might not all get over swine flu. ant721 & his/her idea of stocking up on food supplies is however a little much even for careful thinking me.
Molenir at 06:18 AM JST - 29th April

Whole thing is so silly. Can't get it by eating pork, and yet because its commonly called "Swine" flu, rather then H1N1, people are panicking and avoiding pork. Media hype isn't helping in the slightest either, at this point, they're merely contributing to the panic.
grafton at 06:50 AM JST - 29th April

We should start a campaign to call it something like Toltec flu or Aztec flu, that way the pig can keep its innocence.
elbudamexicano at 08:08 PM JST - 29th April

I think Japan is trying to do the best to contain this horrible situation. We can call this flu, Aztec, Mayan,swine etc..but the bottom line is that people have died, people will continue catching it, and sooner or later more and more people all over the world will die. Just like car accidents but in this case, the "cars" are so tiny we can not seem them because they are a virus. Time to use common sense, masks, wash hands and face, and avoid large crowds for the near future, and even though I am Mexican I can not understand silly Japanese going to Mexico City now (GW) when I am reading all the Mexican newspapers from Mexico City, every thing is closed! Restaurants, bull fights, soccer matches,churches,wrestling matches. Mexico City, population 20 million now seems like a ghost tonw! I pray that Tokyo, etc..do not become like Mexico City.
MapleG at 06:19 AM JST - 30th April

I was living and working in Toronto during the SARS epidemic in 2005--it seems people took a fatalistic attitude, but looking back it still surprises me how stupid some people were. I remember moving seats on the train when I would view someone hacking and coughing (who clearly should have stayed home sick) and someone sneezing loudly in a packed line up at a train station with someone yelling at him to sneeze properly (ie not spraying germs on everyone).

I have no problem with them checking passengers on incoming planes, but the reality is it is difficult to stop. Planes from Mexico would be first priority. As for people stopping eating pork, that is just ignorance.

Hope is all cleared up before my next plane trip in July!!
Vagante at 11:06 AM JST - 1st May

I hear medics saying that face masks are almost useless - the tiny holes are not small enough to block a virus. Also, they become damp through the humidity in breath, which actually aids a virus rather than preventing transmission. The face-mask manufacturers won't tell you this.

As for pork ... nobody has ever shown in a study that humans can catch the H1N1 virus from eating pork.

It seems that the single most effective measure for people who have to go out and about is to keep hands clean.

And did you know that the vaccine used to protect humans from a version of swine flu in the US in 1976 caused serious side effects and more deaths from the vaccine than the outbreak?

It seems that, as usual, the human race has more to fear from ignorance than from the perceived threat.
elbudamexicano at 06:44 PM JST - 3rd May

My Eglish student (a Japanese doctor at Keio Hospital) explained to me in perfect ENGLISH, that masks like the ones sold at your local chemist in Brit.English and (pharmacy/drugstore in American)that these masks are USELESS, well only good to keep the virus from flying away to far from those sick people, and thet this virus, etc..can get into to you from your eyes (goggles) nose, mouth, ears, skin etc..if you think this is BS (good ol american english) just go rent the DVD OUTBREAK.
fatfrenchfool at 06:53 PM JST - 3rd May

would be very wonderful if we could speak perfect ENGLISH like Keio doctor. but I understand your this posting. thank you for the advice