Originally Posted By OrionLive A question for those of you traveling to Japan soon: are you worried about delays/quarantines/refusal of entry to Japan at Narita because of this "swine flu" hysteria? I've been reading that they're taking passengers' temperatures before they go through customs upon arrival, and they're contemplating making travelers from infected countries provide a medical clearance certificate in order to enter Japan. What has everyone else here heard? Will calmer heads prevail by the time we go on our trips?
Originally Posted By Mr X Sounds like they're pretty serious, although as long as you're not Mexican I would imagine you should be okay. <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_369675.html" target="_blank">http://www.straitstimes.com/Br...675.html</a> TOKYO - JAPAN on Tuesday tightened visa rules for citizens of Mexico, the centre of the global swine flu outbreak, and told its own nationals there to consider leaving the country. Japan, which earlier stepped up health controls at its airports, also booked 500 hotel rooms near Tokyo's Narita International Airport in case it needs them to quarantine infected travellers, reports said.
Originally Posted By OrionLive This a more than a little nerve-racking! I leave for Tokyo on May 10; I hope the hysteria settles down by then. I've got a second-row set for Sumo, and I don't want to miss it! Looking forward to DisneySea, too, of course. I've planned my trip since last year, and I'll spend the next ten days on the edge of my seat waiting to see if I'll actually be allowed in to Japan!
Originally Posted By Mr X I'm guessing you'll be okay, but anyway I wish you luck! (If you can't get into the country, could ya throw those tickets to me over the fence? )
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi OrionLive, where are you travelling from? Mexico? If not, then no need to worry really. The next 7-10 days will be very heavy international air travel season for Japanese. -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By OrionLive Thanks for the good wishes. I'm flying out of Los Angeles, California, USA. I'm washing my hands every five minutes, dodging my co-workers to the point of being insulting, and praying for the best! Please let me into your country, Japanese people! I'm bringing cash$$!!!
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi Los Angeles! My favorite city...and hometown! Hehehe. You should be able to get in and enjoy Japan and TDR. Have a safe trip. -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< A question for those of you traveling to Japan soon: are you worried about delays/quarantines/refusal of entry to Japan at Narita because of this "swine flu" hysteria? I've been reading that they're taking passengers' temperatures before they go through customs upon arrival, >>> They've been taking every passenger's temperature at the quarantine station before Immigration continuously for the past 6 years, ever since SARS hit. Most passengers don't even realize this is happening: they have infrared cameras that scan the passengers and a health official watching a monitor to pick out people with fevers in the crowd. I understand that they're doing more now, such as boarding planes as they arrive, passing out masks to passengers that want them, and asking crew members to point out sick passengers. <<< Please let me into your country, Japanese people! >>> Unless you're sick yourself, I would not worry about it. There are thousands upon thousands of passengers arriving at Narita every day from California alone. It's not as if they're going to turn them all away and send them back on an ongoing basis.
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi As I type this, there showing a 25-year-old Japanese female covered with a blanket being lead off a NWA flight from Los Angeles this afternoon. Apparently, she has the flu but it hasn't been determined if it's related to Swine Flu. <a href="http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/northwest-passenger-arriving-at-narita-tests-positive-for-influenza" target="_blank">http://www.japantoday.com/cate...nfluenza</a> In Japan, it's known as the "New Type Flu" since domestic pork producers objected　the name "Swine influenza".
Originally Posted By Malin *** A question for those of you traveling to Japan soon: are you worried about delays/quarantines/refusal of entry to Japan at Narita because of this "swine flu" hysteria? *** I am a bit worried about this, and I'm hoping for the best. I'm watching NHK World TV constantly for possible updates. I'm leaving on the 12th of May and I'm confident unless the situation gets really bad that I'll have no issue stepping foot inside Japan. Mexico is the only country which has reported deaths, and I don't count the one US death as the child came from Mexico in the first place. I can totally see OrionLive's concern as I'm having the same thoughts, but unless its a last attempt to keep the flu out, I really don't see them shutting there gates to Foreigners. But I'm expecting possibly longer waits at Airports like Narita so pasenger checks can be done. Like many know I'm from the UK, but don't live on the Mainland, but on an Island of the coast and today we've had our first suspected case of Swine Flu, thankfully test have returned back as negative, so its a very concerning time for everyone.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< As I type this, there showing a 25-year-old Japanese female covered with a blanket being lead off a NWA flight from Los Angeles this afternoon. Apparently, she has the flu but it hasn't been determined if it's related to Swine Flu. >>> Apparently the issue has now been resolved. From the Mainichi Daily News: "Genetic tests conducted later showed that she had not contracted swine flu, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. Narita International Airport Corp. said the passenger was a Japanese woman who had complained of high fever."
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi There's another report of a male high school student who arrived recently from a school trip to Vancouver, BC. He's getting tested as well. -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By Bob Paris "Like many know I'm from the UK, but don't live on the Mainland, but on an Island of the coast and today we've had our first suspected case of Swine Flu, thankfully test have returned back as negative, so its a very concerning time for everyone." No, it's not. It's hyperbole like this that leads to the hysteria we see in the media from day to day. You already stated that the one suspected case came back as negative, so why worry? God I wonder about people sometimes. We are all so conditioned now to react to whatever the latest "pandemic" or" terrorist attack" or "economic downturn" is that we just wring our hadns and bow our heads like pre-programmed lemmings. Take the necessary precautions(as we all should have been anyway!)and practice sanitary hygiene and you should be completely unaffected. Or, as somebody said to me yesterday, GET ON WITH YOUR LIVES - NOTHING TO SEE HERE.
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara Hey Bob, nice to see your compassion. Why you you repeat your line about "nothing to see here" to the dead folks in Mexico. Or don't they count because they're Mexicans?
Originally Posted By Mr X I don't think he meant it that way. He's simply commenting on how people are getting pretty hysterical about what, for the moment, is just a media hyped non-issue (not that it isn't sad for the folks who died, of course...but percentage wise lots more folks die of regular influenza over the course of a year SO there's no reason to panic).
Originally Posted By Malin *** You already stated that the one suspected case came back as negative, so why worry? *** I'm not worried so much about the virus, but the travel and other restrictions its going to put into place. I watched NHK World say the other day that if the H1N1 flu reaches Tokyo and if cases start appearing than plans are in place to cut large gatherings of people, including sporting events. Now I'm no expert but I would guess the Tokyo Disney Resort could also fall into this category, and my concern is that I'm heading to Tokyo soon as so is the original poster and you may not be alarmed but I do not wish to travel that distance to find restrictions on where I can travel. The Japanese Govement seem to be taking the whole outbreak very seriously from what I've read, and that does concern me and my future travel plans a little.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I would guess the Tokyo Disney Resort could also fall into this category*** I would throw this into the "extremely unlikely" category for now, and unless there is a sudden Japanese outbreak (like, affecting 10,000 people or something), I'd keep it in "extremely unlikely" for the time being if I were you. I *really* don't think you need to worry.
Originally Posted By OrionLive Well, Malin, it seems as though the media is starting to retreat a bit from their fear-mongering. I think we'll both be enjoying a fantastic Tokyo Disney experience in only a few days! BTW: I'll be at DisneySea on May 13. Maybe I'll run into some fellow LP'ers!
Originally Posted By Malin *** I would throw this into the "extremely unlikely" category for now, and unless there is a sudden Japanese outbreak (like, affecting 10,000 people or something), I'd keep it in "extremely unlikely" for the time being if I were you. I *really* don't think you need to worry. *** I'm only looking at it as a possibilty, but I must admit its very unlikely. Now that I am in the final stages of going away I start to worry anyway, mainly about the small stuff like being unable to fly due to fog, plane crashing and other silly stuff, H1N1 is just something to add to the list. Once I reach down in Narita I will be ok. Than I will have a new set of problems to worry about, like earthquakes, getting lost etc. *** Well, Malin, it seems as though the media is starting to retreat a bit from their fear-mongering. *** That does appear to be the case, but I don't think we can completely blame the media, its the scientist and health officials that started the panic. *** I think we'll both be enjoying a fantastic Tokyo Disney experience in only a few days! BTW: I'll be at DisneySea on May 13. Maybe I'll run into some fellow LP'ers! *** I think your right OrionLive, hope you have a great time, I will not be at TDS on the 13th but I am sure you will have a blast. Disney Sea is a one of a kind.
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara Malin, are you a neurotic person? Why would you worry about all that stuff. Just look forward to travel day with anticipation. Then have fun.
