Panic Spreads in Japan Over Swine Flu

Japan is taking major precautions against the outbreak of a new type of swine flu, which has spread to Osaka and Kobe and threatens to hit Tokyo and its population of more than 10 million.

Japan’s government, schools and companies are on high alert over the flu. Prime Minister Taro Aso even appeared on a television program Thursday to ask his people to stay calm.

According to the Tourism Ryokan Association of Osaka and Kyoto, reservations amounting to 360,000 nights at hotels or other lodging facilities were canceled from Saturday through Thursday.

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Boy tested for swine flu

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy and a 42-year-old man returning from Japan are the latest people being monitored for swine flu, the Health Department said yesterday.

Their cases brought the total number of people investigated for swine flu to 70 as of May 19, Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said.

He said the two patients, both from Central Visayas, were now confined in a private hospital in Metro Manila.

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Health Dept. tests 2 more for flu virus

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Health (DoH) has identified two new suspected cases of Influenza A(H1N1), both of whom arrived last May 8 from Japan, which is in the middle of a community outbreak.

The DoH said the two new cases -- a five-year-old foreign boy and a 42-year-old man of yet unknown nationality -- were placed in private hospitals in the Central Visayas region.

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Manila suspends consular services in Osaka over flu

MANILA, May 19 (Reuters) - The Philippines suspended consular services in Japan's western city of Osaka for four days on Tuesday due to the spread of a new strain of the flu virus, Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Citing public safety concerns, the Philippine consular office in Osaka advised its staff to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel to "maintain their state of health" after Japan reported a sharp rise in influenza A (H1N1) cases in the past few days.

The DFA said in a note on its website (www.dfa.gov.ph) the Osaka office would be closed from Tuesday until Friday "in the interest of public safety".

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