Comments on: AP: H1N1 flu causing schools to shut down “across Japan”

By: ImperialPimp

ImperialPimp — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:38:16 +0000

I think what the guys here at JapanProbe are noticing is that the media LIES, this time its just a little more obvious….

The North Korean “ROCKET LAUCNH” was fake too, it never even happened.

By: lmshea

lmshea — Wed, 20 May 2009 08:28:32 +0000

WAY safer than visiting New York!

By: Manju

Manju — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:19:18 +0000

I have plan to visit japan by first week of the june, how safe its?

By: Ciot

Ciot — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:41:18 +0000

I hope also that it end soon in this region because half of july i go to kyoto for a summer course.

By: Vonskippy

Vonskippy — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:47:34 +0000

“3) Since the symptoms look like the flu”

Um…maybe because it IS the flu???

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:43:37 +0000

I really hope this whole swine flu epidemic wraps up soon I had plans to go fairly soon, this must be killing their tourism industry right now.

By: Flaffer

Flaffer — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:40:26 +0000

There a couple of confounding issues:

1) H1N1 does not exhibit symptoms immediately. Cases can take 2 weeks to begin to show symptoms and the person is contagious during this time; they could be spreading it for up to 2 weeks without knowing there is anything wrong.
2) It takes time to verify that one has the particular H1N1 strain. You have to be identified (see above) and then have the blood test done after one develops symptoms (viral load has to hit a particular level before tests are certain).
3) Since the symptoms look like the flu, some people who have it may not be going to the hospital. This is a general, cultural thing and Japanese may be more likely to go to the hospital with flu symptoms then Mexicans or Americans.

So the new report may be right but they may not know it. Given Japan’s density, this will only get worse before it gets better. And as some of the comments mention, the story was prescient.

By: Ken Y-N

Ken Y-N — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:35:20 +0000

Ah yes, my mistake, I hear now that it has spread as far as the Sea of Japan, and now Nara too.

Wifey said that they tracked the source to a schoolgirl in Osaka who got sick but recovered at home, but passed it on to her brother who was the person who then spread it to the volleyball teams, etc.

By: Deas

Deas — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:57:36 +0000

I love it when you catch the AP being stupid. (It’s so easy! But I still get a big smile each time someone else points it out.) Allow me to mix languages to say: muchos kudos.

By: jmadsen

jmadsen — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:56:19 +0000

Actually, the infections were first reported in Kobe, then discovered to have spread to Osaka, then were found to have spread to Kita Kinki, on the Sea of Japan. It went from 0 to about 170+ cases in 2-3 days.

So, initially, it seemed like the virus had suddenly “burst out” across the country.

They now believe the infections were spread at a high school (Kendo?) tournament, and so it will probably stay localized if the school closures, etc. work as intended.

Japan has sensational news, but they also have an aging population that is particularly sensitive to normal flu epidemics, so yes, they freak out a little.

There is ignorant fear-mongering, but there is also ignorant ridiculing of serious matters. I have been watching the local news closely, as I live near Kobe and have two small children, and there has been a lot of coverage but nothing I would consider to be “over the top” reporting. People here are relaxed but cautious, and eager to send the kids back to school. Perhaps in Tokyo they are reporting it differently.

By: lovely

lovely — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:15:24 +0000

if you look at the news in japan – you might feel the same way. the sensationalizing of it all, you`d think that we all have to wear biohazard suits.

By: Ken Y-N

Ken Y-N — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:10:19 +0000

Even that picture is confusing as Hyogo extends from the Pacific (well, the Inland Sea, Osaka Bay) to the Sea of Japan but all the infections so far have been in Kobe and the surrounding towns right by Osaka Bay.

By: Klen

Klen — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:10:57 +0000

indeed, the most problematic issue in Mexico about the flu was the media hype, but there’s nothing to fear, its a perfectly curable virus just by getting medical attention, still, preventive measures are always necessary.

By: Get A Job, Son!

Get A Job, Son! — Tue, 19 May 2009 04:53:55 +0000

Journalists – taking license with the facts?

Well, in their defence, it really is “across Japan”, from the Pacific Ocean side to the Sea Of Japan side.

… But seriously now, they are seriously stretching the truth!

By: Bree Hill

Bree Hill — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:56:15 +0000

I just found this video on You Tube that really shows how germs and viruses spread. It is so cool. It’s meant for kids but I even learned a lot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56mq1t1BqfY

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:46:41 +0000

When can we expect it up north, and how do I convince my boss to close down our school down “for safety precautions”.

By: lmshea

lmshea — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:00:32 +0000

Ha Ha, The news media must tell the truth, but as always, they can be tricky and deceptive in order to sell more papers. It IS true that the flu has spead ‘across’ Japan. After all, look at the map; what does the word ‘across’ mean IN THE DICTIONARY?