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  BTADT at 12:23 PM JST - 29th April

  As I said before, currently, human to human infection is considered to be possible 1 day (+) before any symptoms can be observed in the host carrier (CDC). I hope the quarantine screeners have a 6th sense also. Thermal scanners will not identify and stop a possible host carrier that is not in the more advanced stages of incubation of A(H1N1), and displaying no flu like symptoms yet still being contagious, from entering into Japan and getting on that packed transportation system. Also, A(H1N1) is a little more complex than the flu boyz. For one, when the swine version genetically bonds, converges, and mutates with the code of another human pathogen, the results can be unpredictable. One, it could evolve in its evolutionary quest of natural fitness and not kill its host (similar to what some hope the HIV will do eventually)...or an instant mutating monster spewing from the mouths of thousands into a major pandemic of Titanic proportions on overdrive!!!! Ganbatte ne!!!!!!!!

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  TokyoVP at 12:38 PM JST - 29th April

  An Emergency Broadcast from the Prime Minister's Office:

  "The first case of Swine Flu has been DETECTED in Japan. Faxes are being sent to all Prefecture Offices delivering instructions for counter-measures."

  Five minutes later, the Prime Minister's Office makes another announcement:

  "There was a FALSE DETECTION of Swine Flu in Japan..."

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  Gaijinocchio at 01:37 PM JST - 29th April

  The media hypes this virus up because they know it'll spread like wildfire in Japan. Packed trains, buses, clubs, bars, public hospitals understaffed, ineffectual masks, improper healthcare, self-induced malnutrition, and so on.

  This delay in Narita is a perfect example of how grossly unprepared Japan is for a crisis. And even then, this flu can avoid detection for up to 5 days.

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  Rekishika at 03:03 PM JST - 29th April

  A very human response. People tend to overreact to the rare and spectacular risk, and all too often very readily introduce / accept very common risks in return. It is always interesting to see J-gov responses. For better or worse, it shows all too often what happens if one doesn´t have a system of ethics or reason to limit their responses and balance off the human impulses. The results are predictable, and repeatable.

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  KnowBetter at 03:36 PM JST - 29th April

  WOW is all I can say!!!

  Those who believe all this hype truly need to check out the facts.

  • As of now there are some 150 deaths in Mexico BUT less than 30 can actually be confirmed as being due to the ACTUAL Swine Flu.

  • Mexico has a population of around 107 to 111 million people depending on where you get your facts from.

  • The U.S. has a population of just over 306 million people.

  • About 36,000 Americans die on average per year from the complications of flu. ( http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/disease.htm )

  • There are 6.776 billion people on this planet so using a 1st world nation's death rate ( the U.S. ) for the common flu is a fairly conservative way to figure out how many would die world wide from the the common flu EVERY YEAR which would be 797,200 DEAD ( pretty sure the number is WAY higher) and that is the normal FLU not this FANCY Swine flu that they claim is far worse because CNN and NHK scare you into believing the hype.

  • Remember SARS During November 2002 through July 2003, a total of 8,098 people worldwide became sick with severe acute respiratory syndrome that was accompanied by either pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome (probable cases), according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Of these, 774 died. By late July 2003, no new cases were being reported, and WHO declared the global outbreak to be over. ( http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/faq.htm )

  • Remember the how the world almost stopped traveling because of all the hype? Remember the fear created by the media and how Japan went right off the deep?

  • Now if you really want to worry about something that you can prevent think about this: Around 1.5 million people die each year worldwide due to smoking-related diseases, a rate of one death every 13 seconds. ( http://www.emro.who.int/Publications/HealthEdReligion/Smoking/QA.htm )

  • For Japan, over 336,000 people die in that country from cancer and most of these have lung cancer. http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Many-People-Die-From-Cancer-Each-Year?&id=2038102

  So 150 people have died from this Swine flu although not yet confirmed and some Mexicans interviewed claim it came from Canada because they saw one Canadian that was sick and then everyone else became ill.

  Yes, that is how misinformed everyone can get one lets their mouth spew off 'stories' that are just that because they have NO actual FACTS!!!

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  Yelnats at 03:58 PM JST - 29th April

  I had a high fever when I was in Singapore on business during the SARS fright. I lied about being healthy when I came through Narita.

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  BTADT at 04:01 PM JST - 29th April

  Sure, yeah, reread my post above camper. Aye-aye captain, full speed ahead!!!!

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  Farmboy at 04:18 PM JST - 29th April

  Knowbetter, While the number of confirmed cases is low, it would be fair to note that it takes quite a while to confirm a case, and that with over a thousand (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aZyRt.8GUvHc&refer=latin_america) sick in Mexico with symptoms that match those of swine flu, one could take a wild guess that the numbers will soon climb. Ditto for the number of cases from just about everywhere. In Queens, for instance, the number of confirmed cases just from the one school has been growing daily. While I second the motion to investigate the facts and not overreact, I don't think denying the obvious is not such a good idea either.

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  NuckinFutz at 05:23 PM JST - 29th April

  What a welcome to the country! Now they'll have nice clean hands when they get to the fingerprint machine!

  Leave it to Japan to screw this up and keep people needlessly waiting for hours so they can have their temperature taken and wash their hands - ridiculous!

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  usaexpat at 11:42 PM JST - 29th April

  As I posted yesterday, I will probably be in a full on rage by the time I finally get off the damn plane. I'm thinking I should just cancel my flight and stay in the states until this blows over. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, typical overreaction by the authorities.

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  Farmboy at 06:15 AM JST - 30th April

  usaexpat, If it makes you feel any better, it's happening everywhere. From an AP article: "In additions to preparations for quarantines in Russia, Taiwan and China, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and the Philippines were checking for signs of fever among passengers arriving at airports from North America. In Malaysia, health workers in face masks took the temperatures of passengers as they arrived from a flight from Los Angeles."

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  888naff at 08:07 AM JST - 30th April

  "What a welcome to the country! Now they'll have nice clean hands when they get to the fingerprint machine! Leave it to Japan to screw this up and keep people needlessly waiting for hours so they can have their temperature taken and wash their hands - ridiculous!"

  People retuning from mexio to th uk were disapointed that there were no checks on arrival and they had "prepared" themselves to expect extra time for checks. There seems to be more talking about it in the UK than actually doing anything, lack of decisive info for citizens and alot of simplistic analysis and low expectation of their residents regarding hygiene and misunderstanding ( based on their own standards of how to live) of how other countries use and why they use face masks.

  Japanese though can be pretty sensitive about time and this sounds like a case of managing expectations.. 45 mins changing to two hours not great in that department

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  Ah_so at 08:50 PM JST - 30th April

  Excellent - this is just the kind of hilarious over-reaction from the Japanese authorities that I was hoping for!

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  kirakira25 at 10:47 AM JST - 5th May

  Yep, not surprised at all. I had a student who cancelled her 4 day holiday in Hawaii when America invaded Iraq!!! Like the Iraqi`s are going to fly right across US airspace, by-passing the likes of Washington, Chicago, SF and LA, just to drop a bomb on the unsuspecting Japanese tourists on Waikiki beach?!

  I have been reading the CDC information on face masks (in prep for my flight this month to Europe) which states face masks have limited effectiveness in preventing catching the flu, (respiratory masks are better) and only slightly more effectiveness in in preventing transmission (and only medical grade masks are effective, not those sold by most drugstores here to help with allergies).

  It never ceases to amaze me that since living here I have found the Japanese to be the most hygienic, health-conscious people I have ever known (as compared to UK, Australia, US, parts of Europe and South Africa). Their attention to washing hands, gargling, mask-wearing, visiting the doctor every time they have a symptom, never picking food up off the floor, etc is admirable. And yet, every winter, virtually everyone I know gets really sick?!

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  kirakira25 at 10:50 AM JST - 5th May

  PS - I should point out the CDC site did say in a crowded space (such as an airplane) the masks are better used than not in conjunction with other measures such as regular hand-washing although their protection is limited. Sorry - just wanted to make sure I am posting the right info for anyone else who is flying soon!

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