Swine Flu Hits Kobe and Osaka

Posted by Kyle Yates in Japan Related, Kansai Area News, Kansai Health, Kansai Visitors

The World Health Organization has confirmed that in the past few days the swine flu has gone from a handful of people to 52 cases with the majority being high school students who most likely contracted the virus from others while watching and participating in volleyball matches.

School faculty became suspicious after noticing higher than usual numbers of students absent from school with flu-like symptoms and notified public health authorities prior to the weekend.

For now, schools in Kobe are closed effecting over 32,000 students. Schools in Osaka overall remain open, but officials are monitoring the virus and infected schools in the Osaka area to ensure safety.

If you suspect you are carrying the virus, do not go to a hospital or clinic. Instead, contact the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Tokyo. They are open from 9am to 9pm and their phone number is 03-3501-9031.