An editorial in Asahi Shimbun: Swine flu pandemic. Excerpt:
According to an estimate by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 20 million people in Japan, mostly children, have been infected so far.
For those adults who have not acquired immunity to the disease, the situation could become quite dire this autumn if Japan is hit by a second wave of more severe infections. The virus may even mutate into a more virulent strain.
The government should review its response to the pandemic so far and take steps to ensure the nation will be prepared. The pandemic has claimed the lives of fewer than 200 people in Japan, an amazingly small toll compared with other nations.
Apparently, early diagnosis and treatment were effective in preventing any deterioration of patients’ conditions. Credit for this must go to the gallant efforts of doctors and medical institutions.
Many physicians and pediatricians across the nation have been treating patients until late at night. The nation’s first case of swine flu was discovered by a practitioner in Kobe. Citizens also did what they could to prevent the spread of infections.
In contrast, the health ministry’s response has been less than exemplary. The ministry’s basic plan to deal with new strains of influenza was designed only for bird flu, which was supposed to cause serious symptoms.
The ministry was slow to revise the plan even after it became clear that most patients only develop relatively mild symptoms.
The ministry was also slow in setting priorities and making other necessary preparations for the nationwide vaccination campaign, causing confusion among medical institutions and their workers.
The ministry needs to review the plan to make it more practical and ensure more flexible responses.
The way the ministry provided information about swine flu to the public was flawed, too. Repeated emergency news conferences held by then health minister Yoichi Masuzoe may have made the public more anxious than necessary.
The ministry should establish a system to provide timely explanations about the situation by health experts. This is what the WHO and industrialized nations do. Disseminating accurate information is crucial for making sure that people remain cool-headed.
