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Latest Development of New Strain of Influenza Outbreak
(updated 9:30‚ May 19‚ 2009)
* The latest updated information is shown in pink.
Urgent! To students and staff and faculty members:
Latest Development of the New Strain of Influenza Outbreak
More cases of the new strain of influenza have been confirmed in Kobe City on Saturday‚ May 16. The domestic alert level has now been raised to "Stage 2 (Early stage of domestic outbreak)." If cases were confirmed in the Kanto area (Ibaraki Prefecture)‚ the university may be closed. As such‚ we ask students‚ in particular‚ to check this homepage daily.
This homepage offers information about the new strain of influenza‚ as well as important messages to students‚ faculty members‚ and staff. Please let us know if there is any information you (students‚ faculty members‚ and staff of this university) would like us to provide here on this homepage.
1. The current stage of the outbreak
On April 30‚ 2009‚ the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its alert level for the new strain of influenza from Phase 4A to Phase 5A. On Saturday‚ May 16‚ 2009‚ the domestic alert level has been raised to "Stage 2 (Early stage of domestic outbreak)." As further information will be provided by the government and Ibaraki and other prefectural governments‚ please remain calm.
* For the definition of the phase classification‚ please refer to the annexed table‚ "WHO Phase Classification and Management of Outbreak Procedures‚" at the end of this announcement.
2. Countries with confirmed new strain of influenza cases (including Japan)
(as of 9:30‚ May 19: total of 40 countries‚ including information pending confirmation)
- Countries with confirmed cases:
Mexico‚ the United States‚ Canada‚ Spain‚ New Zealand‚ The United Kingdom‚ Germany‚ Israel‚ Austria‚ Costa Rica‚ Switzerland‚ the Netherlands‚ France‚ Denmark‚ South Korea‚ Italy‚ Ireland‚ Colombia‚ El Salvador‚ Portugal‚ Guatemala‚ Sweden‚ Poland‚ Brazil‚ Argentina‚ Panama‚ Panama‚ Australia‚ Norway‚ China (including Hong Kong)‚ Cuba‚ Thailand‚ Finland‚ Belgium‚ Peru‚ Malaysia‚ Ecuador‚ Turkey‚ India‚ Chili (Information based on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website‚ "Overseas Security Information Center"
)‚ Greek
- Areas and regions with confirmed cases (Japan):
* Kobe City (Hyogo)(including Higashi Nada Ward‚ Nada Ward‚ Chuo Ward‚ Hyogo Ward‚ Nagata Ward‚ Kita Ward)
* All wards of Ashiya City (Hyogo)
* All wards of Toyonaka City (Osaka)
* All wards of Suita City (Osaka)
* All wards of Ibaraki City (Osaka)
* All ward of Yao City (Osaka)
* All wards of Ikeda City (Osaka)
* All wards of Takatsuki City (Osaka)
* All wards of Minoh City (Osaka)
* Shimamoto-cho‚ Mishimagun‚ Osaka
(Information based on the Ministry of Health‚ Labour and Welfare website‚ "Measures Against the new strain of influenza"
3. Actions required from Students and Staff
As new cases of the new strain of influenza have confirmed‚ the university is currently considering measures to be taken. We will officially announce our response by late night of Tuesday‚ May 19‚ 2009.
3-1 Individuals who have visited or are currently visiting the cities in Japan where cases of the new strain of influenza have been confirmed
i) For those who visited cities in Japan where cases of the new strain of influenza was confirmed after Sunday‚ May 10‚ 2009‚ or currently visiting those cities‚ you are requested to stay home (or your parents' home) until Tuesday‚ May 19‚ 2009. Please stay away from work or school. (If you have to travel‚ please avoid public transportation as much as possible.)
However‚ those who don't show any symtoms such as fever and diarrhea for 7 days after you returned from the cities with confirmed cases will be exempted from this application.
-For students‚ a leave of absence due to this case will be treated as being attended classes.
-Similarly‚ for faculty members and staff‚ a leave of absence will not be treated as being absent from work. If you have family members who have returned from cities affected by the new strain of influenza‚ the same rule will be applied.
- Contact office for students: Division of Student Welfare‚ Department of Academic Affairs‚
Contact office for staff and faculty members: Division of Staff Welfare Services‚ Department of General Affairs
Please contact the above offices by phone or email.
-Even if you do not have symptoms‚ closely monitor your health by taking your body temperature every morning and night.
-If you think you have influenza-like symptoms or concerned that you may have been infected with the new strain of influenza‚ make sure to call the hotline in your prefecture‚ instead of going directly to the campus health center or medical institutions.
Useful information:
Ibaraki prefecture homepage and hotline
TEL: +81.29.301.4001
Consultation hours: 24 hours
Ibaraki prefecture homepage and hotline
TEL: 029-244-3811 (Monday-Friday: 08:30-17:15)
Ministry of Health‚ Labour and Welfare homepage and hotline:
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/kinkyu/kenkou/influenza/090430-02.html (Japanese)
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/index.html (English‚ general information only)
ii) Individuals who are planning to visit the cities in Japan where cases of the new strain of influenza have been confirmed‚ please avoid visiting those cities.
3-2 Individuals who returned to or entered Japan from countries affected by the new strain of influenza (or passed through via transit)‚ as well as individuals planning to visit those countries
i) Individuals who returned to or entered Japan from April 19th and onwards from countries mentioned above (or passed through via transit) are requested to stay home or your parents' home from work and school for 7 days after your return. It is strongly recommended not to use public transportation.
- For students‚ the 7-day absence due to this case will be treated as attendance.
Similarly‚ for faculty members and staff‚ those 7 days will not be counted as absence from work. If your family members have returned from countries affected by the new influenza‚ same rule applies.
-For students‚ contact the Division of Student Welfare‚ Department of Academic Affairs by phone or email. For faculty members and staff‚ contact Division of Staff Welfare Services‚ Department of General Affairs by phone or email.
- Even if you do not have symptoms‚ please take your body temperature every morning and night for 7 days and carefully monitor your own health.
Useful information:
Ibaraki prefecture homepage and hotline
TEL: +81.29.301.4001
Consultation hours: 24 hours
Ibaraki prefecture homepage and hotline
TEL: 029-244-3811 (Monday-Friday: 08:30-17:15)
Ministry of Health‚ Labor and Welfare homepage and hotline
ii) Individuals currently traveling in countries affected by the outbreak:
- For students‚ contact the Division of Student Welfare‚ Department of Academic Affairs by phone or email
- For faculty members and staff‚ contact Division of Staff Welfare Services‚ Department of General Affairs by phone or email.
*Passengers arriving at Japanese airports are now being subjected to strict quarantine checks. Please fully cooperate.
-Please avoid traveling to countries with confirmed cases of the new strain of influenza.
3-3 In case the new strain of influenza cases are confirmed in the Kanto area
The new strain of influeza cases are confirmed in the Kanto area‚ the University of Tsukuba might be closed.
(**)
Please visit the University of Tsukuba's website everyday.
(**)
Lectures‚ seminars‚ practical trainings will be suspended.
Activities outside the curriculum will be suspended.
The University libraries will be closed.
Shops and cafeterias will be closed.
4. Counter-measures against the new strain of influenza for all individuals
4-1 The route of the new strain of influenza infection is though to be the same as that of regular influenza.
4-2 Droplet and contact are the main cause of infection. Therefore‚ regular influenza prevention measures could help prevent infection of the new strain of influenza.
4-3 Maintain a respectable distance between you and your friends.
- Avoid crowded‚ enclosed spaces.
- Cough etiquette: Cover your nose and mouth with a mask‚ a tissue‚ and a handkerchief when you cough or sneeze to prevent the spread of infection.
- Wash your hands with soap and alcohol-based cleaners and gargle frequently.
- Clean and disinfect places where the fingers often touch.
Useful information:
On the Ministry of Health‚ Labor and Welfare homepage you can find a special page devoted to the "New Strain of Influenza." Among other information‚ you will find "Guidelines for Dealing with New Strain of Influenza" that includes such topics as "Measures for Each Stage of Outbreak" and "Examples of Emergency Supplies for Individuals." (The above information is only in Japanese‚ but you can find general information in English.)
5. Related sites
- >Office of Prime Minister‚ "Measures against New Strain of Influenza"
- Ministry of Health‚ Labour and Welfare‚ "New Strain of Influenza"
- Infectious Disease Surveillance Center(IDSC)‚ National Institute of Infectious Diseases‚ "New Strain of Influenza"
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan‚ "Overseas Security Information Center"
- Ministry of Education‚ Culture‚ Sports‚ Science and Technology‚ "The counter-measures against the new strain of influenza"
- World Health Organization (WHO)
| Stage of Outbreak | Current Condition | (WHO) Pandemic alert level | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-outbreak (No outbreak) | No new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans. | Phase 1‚ 2A‚ 2B‚ 3A‚ 3B | ||
| 1st Stage (Outbreak in overseas) | New influenza virus subtypes have been detected in overseas. | Phase 4A‚ 5A‚ 6A | ||
| 2nd Stage (Early stage of domestic outbreak | New influenza virus subtypes has been detected in Japan. | Phase 4B | ||
| 3rd Stage | Contact history of pacients became untraceable in Japan. | Phase 5B‚ 6B | ||
| Judgement by prefecture | Spreading further | Measures against the spread of infection is taken by each prefecture | ||
| Widespread | The spread of infection is out of control in each prefecture | |||
| Recoverty | Outbreak is leveling off. | |||
| 4th Stage (Outbreak in remission) | Outbreak is leveling off | Post pandemic | ||
(Note) A: No outbreak in Japn‚ B: Outbreak in Japan.
Inqiries/contact:
Division of Environment and Safety Management‚ Department of General Affairs‚ University of Tsukuba
TEL: +81.29.853.2105
FAX: +81.29.853.2129
E-mail:sj.kaksitu#@#un.tsukuba.ac.jp
(* Please remove "#" from the above e-mail address before sending mail.)
University of Tsukuba Health Center
TEL: +81.29.853.2410
FAX: +81.29.853.2402
Students:
Division of Student Welfare‚ Department of Academic Affairs
TEL: +81.29.853.2224
FAX: +81.29.853.2268
E-mail:gk.gska#@#un.tsukuba.ac.jp
(* Please remove "#" from the above e-mail address before sending mail.)
International students:
Division of International Students‚ Department of Global Activities
TEL: +81.29.853.2213
FAX: +81.29.853.6204
E-mail:isc-somu#@#un.tsukuba.ac.jp
(* Please remove "#" from the above e-mail address before sending mail.)
Staff and faculty members:
Division of Staff Welfare Services‚ Department of General Affairs
TEL: +81.29.853.2126
FAX: +81.29.853.2128
E-mail:influ.shokuin#@#un.tsukuba.ac.jp
(* Please remove "#" from the above e-mail address before sending mail.)
* Updated information can be viewed at "Information on New Strain of Influenza" on the University's webpage.
First posted on April 28‚ 2009
Latest updated:
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