Japan to start new-flu vaccine production possibly in early June+

TOKYO, May 12 Kyodo -
Japan will start production of vaccines against the new strain of influenza
that has been spreading around the globe possibly in early June, Health, Labor
and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe indicated Tuesday.

The minister said he expects the new flu strain for vaccine production to
arrive in Japan from the United States between late May and early June, and
that the ministry will decide what share of vaccine production to allocate to
seasonal influenza and what share to the new type of flu in early June.
''We cannot make light of (measures against) seasonal influenza. After
examining characteristics of the new flu and the expected scope of infections,
we will decide how many vaccines we will produce to fight the disease in early
June,'' Masuzoe told reporters.
Four vaccine makers in Japan have already started manufacturing vaccines
against seasonal influenza, anticipating widespread infections in the coming
winter. Since it takes several months to complete vaccine production, the
allocation must be decided earlier.
Masuzoe's remarks follow Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura's suggestion to
accelerate new-flu vaccine production in Japan. The top government spokesman
said Monday he expects the ''spread of a second wave of infections'' in the
fall.
The health minister also said the ministry will ''flexibly decide'' whether to
shorten the 10-day isolation period for 48 passengers and crew members who were
on the same Northwest Airlines flight as four Japanese who have contracted the
new flu.
The 48 people have been examined by doctors at a hotel near Narita, Masuzoe said.
The Northwest flight arrived in Japan last Friday and they have been staying at
the hotel since Saturday. In the aircraft, they sat close to the four, whose
infections were the first confirmed cases of the new flu in Japan.
Meanwhile, the health ministry and Tokyo metropolitan government said Tuesday
all the 10 Japanese passengers who arrived at Narita on Friday aboard the same
Northwest Airlines flight as a Chinese man who was later confirmed as having
the first case of the new flue strain in mainland China have not developed flu
symptoms.
The 10 were believed to have had close contact with the 30-year-old Chinese man
as they were seated near him on the flight from Minneapolis.
In a related development, the Tokushima prefectural government said Tuesday a
man in his 70s who returned from Brazil to Japan via the United States is
suspected of having been infected with the new flu. Detailed tests will be
conducted on him, with results expected to come out later in the day.
The man was in Brazil from April 27 and arrived at Narita airport last
Wednesday, according to the prefectural government.
==Kyodo