# 3213
In a move that will no doubt put pressure on the WHO (World Health Organization) to raise the global pandemic alert level, Japan has announced more than 130 news H1N1 cases and the closure of more than 2000 schools in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
With a rapidly escalating number of Swine Flu infections, nearly all of which were `domestically acquired’, the fear is that there may be hundreds of others in the community.
Keeping the virus out of Japan, which was the stated goal of the government as recently as late last week, was always a very long-shot.
Virtually impossible given wide prevalence of International travel today.
Stopping the spread of Swine Flu in Japan, now that the virus is already there, may be futile as well.
This from AFP.
Swine flu shuts down 2000 schools
From correspondents in Kobe
Agence France-Presse
May 18, 2009 09:30pm
JAPAN has reported 135 swine flu cases and shut more than 2000 schools and kindergartens in a bid to slow the spread of the virus that may already have infected hundreds.
The number of (A)H1N1 cases has risen rapidly in the urban areas of Kobe and Osaka since the first confirmed domestic infection - a 17-year-old Kobe high school student who had not been abroad - was reported obn Saturday.
Authorities said the real number of infections could already be in the hundreds, with the virus spreading fast in the densely populated island nation.
"This is not just a matter for Hyogo and Osaka (prefectures),'' said Health Minister Yoichi Masuzoe.
"We have to act swiftly by assuming the virus is already widespread across the country.''
The Japanese outbreak increases the chance the World Health Organisation may raise its pandemic alert level to six - the top level which would indicate sustained community transmission in a second region outside the Americas.
