TOKYO, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Japan said it would temporarily tighten visa
control for citizens of Mexico, the center of the swine flu outbreak.
Under the tightened rules, Mexicans could no longer obtain a visa on arrival,
according to a Japanese foreign ministry official.
Japan has visa-waiver agreements with more than 60 countries and territories,
including Mexico, allowing its nationals to obtain visas on arrival without
application in advance.
Japan also plans to issue an advisory asking its nationals to postpone trips to
Mexico following the swine flu, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said Tuesday.
Japan said it will do its best effort to block the outbreak of the swine flu at
the border to protect its people's safety.
Japanese health minister Yoichi Masuzoe said in a statement Tuesday his ministry
has declared the outbreak of the new influenza following the World Health
Organization's upgrading of its alert level.
The government will conduct quarantine activities on flights from Canada and the
United States at three of Japan's key international airports as well as on
flights from Mexico, having quarantine officers check passengers in the cabin
before disembarking the aircraft.
Should people be suspected of infection with swine flu in Japan, the government
will isolate them at designated medical facilities to prevent the disease from
spreading.
The health minister also urged people to take care of themselves and avoid
becoming infected with the new flu by gargling, wearing masks, washing their
hands, and staying away from crowded areas as much as possible.
A task force headed by Prime Minister Taro Aso to deal with the situation has
been set up. Counseling counters at local health centers have also been
established across Japan.
The World Health Organization said Monday it has raised its alert level for a
global flu pandemic to 4 from the current 3 due to the growing number of
confirmed or suspected cases of swine flu in humans.
In Mexico alone, more than 140 people were killed by the pandemic.
Besides Mexico, the United States, Canada, Britain and Spain also reported
confirmed swine flu cases, while suspected cases have been reported in other
countries including New Zealand, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Peru and
most recently, South Korea.
Source : www.chinaview.cn
