Japan Decides to Put Anti-New Flu Law into Effect on Sat.

   Tokyo, April 12 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government decided at a cabinet meeting Friday to put a special law to combat new highly virulent strains of influenza into effect on Saturday, in the face of the spread of the H7N9 bird flu strain in China, which has reportedly killed 10 people.
   After the law becomes effective, the government will present a draft action plan that includes steps to prevent infections as well as medical measures to a panel of experts on Tuesday.
   Based on the action plan, which is expected to be finalized in late May at the earliest, prefectural governments will draw up more concrete plans to deal with new-flu spread.
   Under the law enacted in April 2012, the Japanese health minister will announce a new-flu outbreak in such cases as a declaration by the World Health Organization of its Phase 4 pandemic alert level, the third highest in its six-phase scale, that confirms human-to-human transmission of a new flu stain of animal origin.
   Regarding the H7N9 flu spread in China, the WHO has so far confirmed no human-to-human infection. Even if human-to-human transmission of a new flu virus is discovered, limited transmission will not prompt the government to take measures under the special law.

(2013/04/12-10:46)

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