Rechercher

/ languages

Choisir langue
 

Japan - Swine flu

Schools closed, case numbers rise, WHO warns of higher risks

Article published on the 2009-05-18 Latest update 2009-05-18 15:23 TU

People wear face masks at a shopping street in Kobe, western Japan on Sunday(Photo: Reuters)

People wear face masks at a shopping street in Kobe, western Japan on Sunday
(Photo: Reuters)

The World Health Organisation says interaction with other viruses could make the A(H1N1), Swine Flu' much more dangerous. Margaret Chan's statement comes as the WHO said it would maintain the current alert status at level-5, just one level below full pandemic.

Print the article

Send the article

Comments on article


Over 1,000 schools and kindergartens were closed on Monday in Japan as the number of cases of A (H1N1) flu in the country reached 129.

Japan's first case, a 17-year-old student, was confirmed on Saturday and the number of cases in Kobe and Osaka has risen sharply since.

Authorities are concerned that the number of cases could actually be in the hundreds and believe that a sports meeting between two schools from Kobe and Osaka may have contributed to spreading the virus.

The Mitsubishi UFJ group ordered 70 non-management employees at one branch to stay home on Monday and Prime Minister Taro Aso called on the public to remain calm and said that many people were "recovering smoothly" after receiving treatment.

There have not yet been any cases reported in the Tokyo area, which has a population of almost 36 million people.

The people confirmed to have the virus are aged from five to 60 according to Japanese authorities.

Both India and Turkey also announced confirmed their first cases of A(H1N1) on Saturday.