NPA releases action plan against new type of influenza

[Treyfish]

NPA releases action plan against new type of influenza

Wednesday 17th September, 10:39 AM JST

TOKYO ?
The National Police Agency released an action plan Wednesday in connection with the possibility of an outbreak of a new type of influenza in Japan. The action plan lays out specific measures the NPA and prefectural polices are to take in relation to such a new influenza pandemic for which people have little immunity.
Under the plan, police will be equipped with masks and other protective gear while working with medical institutions so that pandemic vaccines are given to health care officials and other people most likely to be exposed to the new flu in the event of its outbreak. The plan calls for riot police to be mobilized in the vicinity of airports, harbors and hospitals when the new flu breaks out in Japan in order to prevent confusion. In addition, police will strengthen patrol and security checks in coastal areas to prevent the illegal entry of people infected with the new influenza.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/npa-releases-action-plan-against-new-type-of-influenza

[Commonground]

Re: NPA releases action plan against new type of influenza

The plan calls for riot police to be mobilized in the vicinity of airports, harbors and hospitals when the new flu breaks out in Japan in order to prevent confusion.

In addition, police will strengthen patrol and security checks in coastal areas to prevent the illegal entry of people infected with the new influenza.

Internal checkpoints. Border security.

[Treyfish]

Re: NPA releases action plan against new type of influenza

Spacesuits, isolation capsules unnecessary for influenza patients

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

2008/9/17

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After the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, the Japanese government went into action.
The government subsidized purchases in each prefecture of isolation capsules, which made patients in drills appear as if they had been infested with alien microbes threatening to destroy the world. Protective suits were also bought that made rescue workers look like they were preparing to take a space walk or dismantle biological weapons.
Now, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency has acknowledged that the effectiveness of the suits and capsules in transporting patients with a new type of influenza is negligible. In fact, experts say the equipment could prove more hazardous to the patients and their handlers.
The agency, which is part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, on Tuesday issued tips to municipal governments around the country on how to transport influenza patients to hospitals.
An isolation capsule and the protective suit, as well as shoe covers, will get in the way during actual rescue operations, the agency said.
Other experts describe the equipment as overkill with no scientific foundation for their effectiveness.
Both the agency and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases have pointed out a number of disadvantages in using the capsules, such as the difficulty in treating a patient whose condition suddenly worsens, the longer transportation time and the added stress to the patient.
"New types of influenza are, in principle, respiratory diseases," said Keita Morikane, a senior research scientist at the institute's Infectious Disease Surveillance Center. "The virus does not spread from all over the body of a patient. The risk of being infected is not that high unless you go very close to the patient. The use of insulators has more demerits than merits."
When bird flu was found in Japan a few years ago, workers were seen entering chicken coops wearing the protective suits and shoe covers. However, experts note that a flu patient's fluids may splash on the zipper on the front of a rescuer's protective garment, putting the worker at risk of coming into direct contact with a virus when taking off the gear.
Although shoe covers are necessary to protect the feet from virus-contaminated droppings in a chicken coop, experts say that wearing them could be dangerous when treating flu patients.
Rescue workers may be exposed to the flu virus when they take off the shoe covers. They could also slip and fall while wearing the covers.
"There has been no reported cases of someone infected with regular flu through their shoes," Morikane said.
Although the government has admitted the high-tech equipment may not be necessary, officials say the threat of a new strain of flu is still quite serious.
If a new influenza strain spreads in Japan, the government expects up to 2 million people to be hospitalized, including 1.4 million transported by ambulance. (IHT/Asahi: September 17,2008) http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-...809170175.html