May 18, 2009

This Warden Message alerts U.S. citizens to the latest information regarding human cases of H1N1 Influenza A in Japan. Please disseminate this message to U.S. citizens in your organizations or to other Americans you know.

On Monday, May 18 the Japanese government confirmed that domestic transmission of H1N1 influenza is occurring in Japan, largely concentrated in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures among high school age children. Media are reporting the total number of confirmed H1N1 cases in Japan as between 104 and 132, with numbers expected to grow over time.

In reaction to the spread of influenza, local prefectural governments have closed schools in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures, and individual businesses have advised employees suspected of exposure to stay at home. Please consult with local school officials concerning individual school closures and employers concerning work attendance policy.

The Government of Japan is asking anyone with flu symptoms to telephone special call centers set up by the prefectures (local governments). The call center will then direct the individual to go to a fever clinic inside a nearby hospital, where a preliminary test will be done for influenza type A. If the patient tests positive, a virus sample will be tested for H1N1.

Americans who feel ill and who need information on how to contact local health authorities should review the American Citizen Services section of the U.S. Embassy website, in particular this page on H1N1 flu. Links to many of the prefectures are located on this page.

Some of the prefectural websites have information on their local call centers in English. However, most of these websites are in Japanese only. Even when information is presented in English, callers should be prepared to make the call to local health authorities in Japanese, or request the assistance of bilingual neighbors and friends. Information on emergency translation services is available in Tokyo by consulting this website.

Please Note:

If you are feeling unwell or are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, please do not come to the U.S. Embassy or our Consulates. To protect the health of our employees and fellow American citizens, if you do come to our offices and you are exhibiting signs that you are ill, you may be asked to leave. Instead, please contact us by email or phone (see contact information at the end of this message) and we will be happy to assist you. Thank you for your cooperation.

The State Department believes it is important for all citizens to maintain readiness for all possibilities in case of an emergency. Because of potential disruptions in shopping patterns, the U.S. Embassy is advising its employees to consider stockpiling two-weeks of emergency supplies such as food, water, infant formula and medicines, as well as to verify the availability of cash or credit cards. U.S. citizens traveling or resident in Japan should consider doing the same.

All U.S. citizens in Japan are advised to monitor the Embassy website at http://japan.usembassy.gov or sites for the nearest Consulate for additional warden notices and other information.

For further information about H1N1 flu, including steps you can take to stay healthy, please consult the Department of State information, the United States Centers for Disease Control website, and the World Health Organization website. For additional travel safety information, please consult the State Department's website at www.travel.state.gov.

U.S. citizens may also call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the United States for the latest travel information. The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, by calling 1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling (202) 501-4444 from other countries.

Americans living or traveling in Japan are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website so they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Japan. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.

For further information or any emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of either the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo or one of the U.S. Consulates in Japan listed below:

U.S. Embassy in Tokyo
American Citizen Services
1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
Tel: 03-3224-5174
Fax: 03-3224-5856
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/tacs-main.html

The U.S. Embassy serves Americans in Tokyo, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Nagano, Niigata, Saitama, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Yamagata and Yamanashi.

U.S. Consulate General Sapporo
American Citizen Services
Kita 1-jo, Nishi 28-chome
Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0821
Tel: 011-641-1115
Fax: 011-643-1283

The U.S. Consulate General in Sapporo serves Americans in Akita, Aomori, Hokkaido, Iwate and Miyagi. As there are times when both officers are away from the office, we ask that you make an appointment before coming to the Consulate General.

U.S. Consulate Nagoya
Nagoya International Center Bldg. 6th floor
1-47-1 Nagono, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya 450-0001 TEL (052) 581-4501 FAX (052) 581-3190

The U.S. Consulate Nagoya provides emergency consular services including death and arrest cases for Americans living in Aichi, Gifu, and Mie prefectures. Please call Nagoya or Osaka for confirmation before traveling to Nagoya if you believe you have an emergency situation. Routine American Citizen Services are provided by appointment only. If an appointment is not available, American residents may also receive service at the Consulate in Osaka.

U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe
American Citizen Services
11-5, Nishitenma 2-chome
Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8543
Tel: 06-6315-5912
Fax: 06-6315-5914

The U.S. Consulate General in Osaka helps Americans in Osaka, Aichi, Ehime, Fukui, Gifu, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Ishikawa, Kagawa, Kochi, Kyoto, Mie, Nara, Okayama, Shimane, Shiga, Tokushima, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama.

U.S. Consulate Fukuoka
American Citizen Services
5-26, Ohori 2-chome
Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0052
Tel: 092-751-9331
Fax: 092-713-9222

The U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka helps Americans in Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Oita, Saga and Yamaguchi.

U.S. Consulate General Naha
2-1-1 Toyama,
Urasoe City
Okinawa 901-2104
Phone: 098.876.4211
Fax: 098.876.4243
DSN: 645-7323

The U.S. Consulate General in Naha helps Americans in Okinawa and the Amami Oshima Island group (which is the southern island group of Kagoshima Prefecture).

Travel, safety and security information is also available directly from the U.S. Department of State at http://travel.state.gov