Job Discussion Forums

[BobbyBan]

Swine flu?????

I hope they're still paying attention to SARS and bird flu, why don't these diseases get their share of manufactured hysteria anymore? They're completely neglected! It's an outrage!

[Chris21]

The Japan Times is reporting three cases of H1N1 have arrived at Narita and...

[Apsara]

Not only them but another person on their flight was also reported to be infected over the weekend- none of them seems particularly sick though and apparently the boys are complaining about being in quarantine and asking for their TV games...

[Tiger Beer]

I just flew in and out of Japan a couple weeks ago.

BASICALLY...immigration boards the plane with high-tech equipment....scanning people with some heat-radar thing...which can see any unusual high body temperature.

After that, you deplane and go through immigration just like any other time.

It slows things down a little, but not very much.

[wayne432]

I've heard people saying that recently they have stepped down the intensity or are maybe even stopping, because the swine flu is around Japan already.

Any confirmation of that?

[gaijinalways]

I don't know about coming in (haven't flown in and out recently), except for what I've read in the media noted that the scans are continuing.

Within the country, even though the foreign media reports list this type of 'new flu' (the Japanese translation) as similar in strength to a seasonal variety, there is still 'panic' in the streets and a run on masks (which, considering the type most people are buying, really does little if anything to protect you).

A couple of humerous stories concerning mask wearing (from my point of view);

One of my Japanese colleagues came to work wearing one, which she claimed was for protection. She 'of course' took it off while she was teaching her classes, which is where she is just as likely to pick it up.

I was boarding the Yokohama line at Machida during my usual run to Kanagawa Prefecture on Thursdays. The Japanese guy already inside the train near the door, decides to now put on his mask after I and another gross of people board though that door (Maybe those foreigners are really catching things besides... ).

Note Aspara, the German measles made a run through the shcool systems in the Kanto region the last two years. Many local governments no longer vaccinate in Japan, so if the kids didn't get it beofre, they're much more at risk to get it. Some of the teachers I work with, who never had it when they were younger and probably haven't been vaccinated for it recently as in most devloped countries it's nearly nonexistent, were petrified that they might get it and have to be hospitalized (it can be fatal for adults in some cases).

[Tiger Beer]