# 3218
Yesterday morning the news was that Japan had confirmed 135 H1N1 `swine flu’ cases, and had closed roughly 2,000 schools and day care operations in the Kobe/Osaka region in an attempt to contain the spread of the illness.
Twenty-four hours later, and the number of school closings has doubled – to 4,000 – along with a number of businesses, local festivals, and other venues.
The number of confirmed infections has jumped as well, with 173 cases.
The real number is probably a lot higher.
This report from AFP.
Japan reports 173 swine flu cases, closes schools
- By: AFP
- Published: 19/05/2009 at 11:57 AM
Japan reported 173 swine flu infections and closed more than 4,000 schools, colleges and kindergartens for the rest of the week to slow the spread of the virus, officials said.
Experts warned that infections had probably already spread to other regions including the capital Tokyo, which with almost 36 million people is the world's most populous urban area and the heart of the Japanese economy.
"The virus's spread to Tokyo is near certain, and it would be little wonder if the virus had already landed in Tokyo undetected," said Yukihiro Nishiyama, a virologist at Nagoya University in central Japan.
"Of course, there is no need to overreact, but authorities and people in the capital should go ahead with their preparation," Nishiyama told AFP.
Visitors to many public places -- from the parliamentary visitors' gallery to the national sumo tournament in Tokyo -- have been asked to disinfect their hands on entry, wear surgical face masks, or both.
<snip>
The central government has been revising its anti-virus measures, which previously focused on stopping infected persons at the borders and quarantining them before they could enter Japan proper.
"Day by day, we have to change what action we should take," Health and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe told a news conference, adding that the ministry may scale down airport quarantine measures gradually.
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