Japan holds bird flu drill
JAPAN - Japan began a drill yesterday to test its readiness for dealing with a human case of bird flu, with a limping mock patient _ wearing a white mask and labelled "Mr A" _ being whisked to hospital in an ambulance and tested.
6 February 2007
2 minute read
The drill being held in Tokushima prefecture in southern Japan is based on a scenario in which a person develops symptoms of bird flu after returning from a country where the H5N1 virus has mutated into a form that passes easily from person to person.
Local residents given roles as the patient's family members and neighbours will also be checked as part of the drill, a spokesman for the prefectural office said.
The local governor will hold a video conference call with Heath Ministry officials in Tokyo to exchange information, and the prefecture will be called on to update the public on the case via the Internet.
Source: The Brunei Times
