Yokohama high school student tests negative for new flu

TOKYO, May 1 Kyodo -
A high school student in Yokohama suspected of being Japan's first case of
infection from the rapidly spreading new influenza strain tested negative
Friday, sparing the country from being added to the list of those with
confirmed cases, at least for now.
Test results showed that the 17-year-old boy has been infected only with a
seasonal strain of the influenza A virus, a health ministry official said,
adding that a recommendation issued for him to stay in hospital would therefore
be lifted.
Detailed lab tests were being conducted Friday at the National Institute of
Infectious Diseases after the so-called PCR testing of genes had failed to
determine earlier whether the boy had the new strain of flu.
''I think being diagnosed as having a seasonal influenza was very good in
itself,'' said the official of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry at a news
conference.
Prime Minister Taro Aso told reporters, however, that people need to prepare
for a long battle with the new strain of the influenza subtype H1N1 by
maintaining the border security system. ''It will not be a short-lived war,''
the premier said.
The boy, a second-year student at a high school in Yokohama's Sakae Ward,
stayed in British Columbia, Canada, on a school excursion for about two weeks
from April 10 with 114 schoolmates and five teachers, according to his school.
He returned to Narita international airport on Saturday last week and was
hospitalized in Yokohama this Thursday after he developed a fever, cough and
phlegm and a preliminary test showed he was positive for influenza A.
The boy, whose fever once reached 39 C, is recovering with his temperature
falling below 37 C on Friday afternoon, according to the hospital.
Following the final diagnosis, the health ministry decided not to conduct an
epidemiological check on those who recently came in contact with the boy.
A young woman who was at one point suspected of having the new flu after
turning positive in a preliminary test conducted on board an aircraft that
arrived at Narita on Thursday afternoon, was also found to have a different flu
virus.
There has so far been no confirmed case of the new flu infection in Japan.
Once an infection case is found, however, the government plans to ask local
governments to identify those who had close contact with the patient.
Municipalities whose jurisdiction sees a confirmed case of the new flu are to
call on residents to stay at home and take public hygiene actions to stop its
further spread.
==Kyodo