Japan raises guard aganst bird flu with reclassification
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060414p2a00m0na010000c.html
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060414p2a00m0na010000c.html
Japan will step up its defense against highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza by reclassifying it as a designated infectious disease, officials of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said Friday.
The step is in response to concern that the avian flu virus could mutate into a highly contagious form and touch off a global pandemic. After the reclassification, the government will be allowed to take forceful measures, such as compulsory hospitalization of patients.
A total of 109 people in nine countries have so far died of the disease, according to the most recent figures compiled by the World Health Organization.
Until now, human infections have been limited to cases that involved close contact with infected birds. In January, however, an expert warned that the virus became more infectious than before after examining samples taken from a patient infected with the avian flu in Turkey.
An official of the Japanese Health Ministry said that the government does not believe the risk of infection in Japan has grown and that the planned reclassification of the disease is a preemptive step. (Jiji Press)
April 14, 2006
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