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Abe Calls for Stricter Vigilance against China Pneumonia

Scientists conduct research in a secure high level laboratory. (Shutterstock)
Scientists conduct research in a secure high level laboratory. (Shutterstock)
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20 Jan 2020 09:01:05 GMT9
20 Jan 2020 09:01:05 GMT9

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged cabinet ministers on Tuesday to pay increased attention to pneumonia caused by a new strain of coronavirus following an outbreak of in Wuhan, China. 

"With the number of patients continuing to increase in China, we need to be more vigilant" against the pneumonia, Abe said at a meeting of relevant ministers.

Participants at the meeting agreed to step up necessary measures, including thorough quarantine inspections and gathering related information.

Abe instructed ministries and agencies concerned to strengthen border controls, manage the system to detect and examine suspected patients in Japan, and conduct full-scale information gathering under close international cooperation.

The announcement came right after China confirmed human-to-human transmission in the outbreak of a new SARS-like virus as the number of cases soared and the World Health Organization said it would consider declaring an international public health emergency.

According to the Japanese health ministry Monday, 41 people who may have had long-term contacts with patients of pneumonia caused by a new strain of coronavirus that has led to an outbreak of the disease in the inland China city of Wuhan have been identified.

While three of them have already left Japan, the ministry has been able to get in touch with all of the 41 people, and no new case of infection has been confirmed in the country, the ministry said. The health conditions of all 41 people will be monitered for about two weeks, the ministry added.

People entering Japan from Wuhan have been advised by the ministry to wear a mask if they have symptoms such as fever and go to see a doctor after making an advance call. It also asked airlines to make in-flight announcements calling on passengers from the city to Japan to report their conditions voluntarily if they have any of such symptoms.

Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases is working to build a system to detect people with the new coronavirus so that it can quickly respond to any new cases of infection.

JIJI Press/AFP

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