[Enhanced surveillance for US presidential visit to Japan].

Abstract

US President Barack Obama's November 13-14, 2009 visit to Japan gave us an opportunity to enhanced routine syndrome surveillance upgrade countermeasure against bioterrorism attacks and other emergencies. We conducted analysis using suspected case surveillance based on the Infection Control Law, surveillance for ambulance transfer by the local Tokyo government, and prescription surveillance by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. Thanks to regularly conducted prior surveillance, we enhanced the routine by closer monitoring and sharing information, conducting postvisit surveillance for two weeks until November 30. Information as of 07:00 from the Prescription Survey and a 17:00 ambulance transfer survey were submitted to and evaluated National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health. The fact that we conducted enhanced surveillance easily without prior preparation indicates that we may be able to cut the cost and time of syndrome surveillance negotiation and preparation. Such enhanced surveillance is highly feasible and we expect to do so similarly cooporating flexibly with local and central governments.