Job Discussion Forums

jen · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Posts: 10

To all those currently in Japan...

What's the SARS situation like? I'm in Toronto and as far as Asia goes, the only places of which I've heard are experiencing any outbreak are China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, rest of SE Asia.
What's going on in Japan? I'm moving there in 10 days so I'd like to know, for example, if there'd be any problems at customs, that sort of thing.
Thanks.

Celeste · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2003 11:13 pm Post subject:

A friend of mine has been following this story in the news, and he mentioned to me that there had been a couple of suspected cases that had turned out to be the flu.

On New Year's day, I returned to Japan from a hoiday in Korea and Thailand, and for the first time in my travelling career, I had to fill out a quarantine card. This was a yellow card that had questions on it such as flight number, contact number in Japan, what countries I'd visited, and whether or not I had any of a list of symptoms. I don't know if this was due to SARS, but you may have to fill out something similar when you come.

nakanoalien2 · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Nakano, Japan

China, HK, Vietnam, Singapore, Germany, Canada are the warning countries that come up most often, but if you read enough articles it is difficult to keep up with this.

Thailand was on the WHO warning list briefly but removed. An Italian WHO doctor died in Thailand of SARs but I think the arguement there was that it was contained.

There have been some suspected but no confirmed cases in JP. Consider this though - usually multinational companies operating in Asia have offices in Tokyo and HK. There's plenty of back and forth travel (in my company, 4 or 5 coworkers in the last few weeks). Probably inevitable.

The little yellow cards are not just for SARs. I got one of those a couple of months ago after returning from Manila. I think they are just standard when there's an outbreak of whatnot.

Bob

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

There have been no cases of SARS reported in Japan. Today's Japan Times shows a nice worldwide picture of the affected countries. Too bad that article isn't online.

Joe Thanks · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 25 Location: Asia

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

The article that you might be referring to, Joe, is here.

http://www12.mainichi.co.jp/news/mdn/search-news/874293/SARS-0-1.html

Since that was published on March 19, and there have been no follow up articles to say that any of these 3 cases have developed further problems, I would have to assume that they did not have SARS, and that they continued with their recovery.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Or perhaps you read this article from the Yomiuri Shimbun, Society section.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/index-e.htm

In it, a Japanese boy was confirmed as having SARS, but he is in Hong Kong, not Japan.

Celeste · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2003 12:06 am Post subject:

nakanoalien2

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Just in case you dont know

SARS stands for Serious Acute respiratory Sickness and is now being carried on airborne particles in Hong Kong

The news has said that a dozen or more (I dont know how many) have died already in Hong Kong (including the doctor who discovered it) and one apartment block of 50 inhabitants has already been quarantined and the residents can not enter or leave the building.

mc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Posts: 90 Location: Aichi, Japan

Interesting article:

http://www.fumento.com/disease/sars.html

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Writerman,

Are you trying to say that Japan has cases of SARS? I assume this because of the bold type you used when writing Tokyo in your post.

cafebleu · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 404

Thanks mc for that link to the article that actually states the facts about SARS as opposed to the hysteria and hype.

Just because it is a new strain of viral pneumonia does not mean it is going to kill you. Has the mainstream media carried
news about the medicine that can contain the virus and help cure sufferers? If so, I haven`t seen any such news. I have just seen the screaming headlines about the World Health Organisation`s recommendation that people not travel to Hong Kong.

People need to remember that in Asia the reality of thorough hygiene
does not exist in many clinics and hospitals, such as in parts of China. In Japan, where the people are famous for loving soaking in baths, I have
personally seen a very tacky, dirty public hospital and was appalled - it seemed in a 19th century timewarp. I have also heard of
some unhygienic practises in hospitals and seen evidence given on websites such as gaijinpot.com by posters who are credible and usually praise Japan.

Obviously such practices have helped spread SARS. But is it really so easy to catch? People are reporting symptoms that turn out to be the flu. There are many nastier strains of flu around now than when I was a wee one because people take too many antibiotics for minor infections, thus decreasing their body`s resistance to infection.

Please everybody - read the link from mc.

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

Has everyone read Stephen King's book,
The Stand?