インフル特措法 「新型」流行への備えを万全に

The Yomiuri Shimbun April 16, 2013
Meticulous preparations needed to curb spread of new types of flu
インフル特措法　「新型」流行への備えを万全に（4月14日付・読売社説）

A law concerning special measures to counter new strains of influenza that could trigger an epidemic has been put into force. It requires the central and local governments to meticulously prepare to prevent the spread of the new types of flu.
　従来にないタイプのウイルスが大流行を引き起こす新型インフルエンザの発生に備え、特別措置法が施行された。
　新法を踏まえ、政府や自治体は流行防止への体制整備に万全を期すべきだ。

A new flu virus found in birds and pigs has mutated genetically and is thought to be capable of spreading from person to person.
　新型インフルエンザは、鳥や豚の体内にあるウイルスが突然変異し、人から人へ感染しやすくなったものだ。

As nobody is immune to the new strain of virus, it could spread explosively and possibly claim many lives.
免疫を持つ人がいないため、爆発的に流行し、多くの死者が出る恐れもある。

Some people have been infected with the new strain of bird flu virus in Shanghai, its environs and even in Beijing. But so far there have been no confirmed cases of person-to-person infection. At this moment, the latest type of flu is not among the strains stipulated by the new law.
　中国の上海周辺や北京で鳥インフルエンザウイルスの人への感染が問題となっているが、人同士の感染は確認されていない。現時点では、新法が規定している新型インフルエンザには該当しない。

Remain on guard

The nation must not let its guard down. The government has appropriately put the new law into force earlier than originally planned in order to put relevant systems into place promptly.
　しかし、警戒は怠れない。早期に体制を整えるため、政府が前倒しで特措法を施行したのは、適切な判断と言えよう。

When a new type of flu broke out in 2009, prefectural and municipal governments dealt differently with planned public events, causing confusion.
　２００９年に新型インフルエンザが流行した際、集客イベントの開催などを巡って県や市町村の対応が異なり、混乱が生じた。

The law concerning special measures has been established based on the lessons learned from that incident. It obliges the central and local governments to map out action plans.
　特措法は、こうした教訓から制定された。政府や自治体に行動計画の策定を義務付けた。新型インフルエンザの発生で大きな被害が予測される場合には、首相が緊急事態を宣言し、行動計画に基づく対策が講じられる。

If a large number of casualties are predicted with an outbreak of a new type of flu, the prime minister would declare a state of emergency, with the central and local governments taking measures based on their action plans.
One key point is that prefectural governors are authorized under the new law to close local schools and kindergartens. They are also authorized to instruct such venues as theaters, museums, and department stores to limit their hours or suspend operations. Should they fail to follow the instruction, the governor can make their names public.
　ポイントとなるのが、知事の権限で学校や幼稚園を休校・休園にすることだ。劇場や博物館、百貨店などに対しても、営業制限や一時休業を指示できる。従わない場合は、施設名を公表する。

This is understandable because such infections tend to spread instantly when many people gather at one place. While such emergency suspensions could restrict some economic activities, they may be inevitable.
　１か所に多くの人が集まると、感染が広がりやすい。経済活動が制約されることになるが、やむを得ない措置だろう。

Should such measures be prolonged, however, they would adversely affect corporate business activities and the overall economy. Therefore, such restrictions should be minimized, which makes it important for the authorities to accurately determine the virulence of a virus.
　だが、長期化すれば企業経営や景気などに影響が出る。制限は必要最小限にとどめるべきだ。そのためには、ウイルスの毒性の強さなどを正確に把握し、危険性を見極めることが重要になる。

Stable supply of goods

To ensure a stable supply of such necessities as medicines and foods, the central and local governments are also empowered under the new law to oblige private businesses to deliver goods. This step could be considered analogous to dealing with such disasters as a major earthquake.
　医薬品や食品などの安定供給のため、国や自治体は、業者から物資を強制的に供出させることもできる。大地震などの災害時にも応用できる措置と言えよう。

The new law also calls for efficient vaccination, with priority given to medical personnel and workers in the railways, electricity and gas services. This is necessary to allow people to carry on with their daily activities.
　特措法は、効率的なワクチン接種も求めている。医療関係者や鉄道、電気、ガス事業などの従事者に優先接種する。社会活動を維持するためには、必要な対策だ。

Nevertheless, a vaccine cannot prevent people from being infected with the virus. It can only reduce the number of people who develop symptoms or reduce the severity of symptoms that do develop.
　ただ、ワクチンは、発症や重症化の割合を減らすものの、感染自体を防ぐことはできない。

First of all, the government must remind people to take such preventive measures as washing their hands regularly and refraining from going out unnecessarily if they have symptoms of being infected.
　手洗いを励行する。症状の兆しがあれば外出を控える。政府が感染防止の注意点を国民に周知することが、まずは大切である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 14, 2013)
（2013年4月14日01時37分  読売新聞）