Measles virus

 The Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced on the 24th that four recently confirmed measles cases (identified between the 17th and 20th) may have exposed an unspecified number of people in locations such as airplanes, airports, and supermarkets. The total number of infections in Tokyo this year has reached 41, surpassing last year’s total of 34.

According to officials:

  • A man in his 20s from outside Tokyo flew on ANA Flight 850 from Bangkok, arriving at Haneda Airport at 5:45 a.m. on the 10th. He may have had contact with many people in:

    • Terminal 1 arrival lobby (1F) and basement floor (8 a.m.–1 p.m., 4–8 p.m.)

    • Terminal 3 departure lobby (3F, 1–4 p.m.) He developed symptoms on the 7th and was confirmed infected on the 17th.

  • A Tokyo man in his 30s flew Jin Air Flight 218 from Narita to Incheon on the 7th and returned on Flight 217 on the 8th. From the 10th to 16th, he shopped nightly for about 15 minutes at York Foods with The Garden Jiyugaoka Shinjuku Tomihisa Store. He developed symptoms on the 8th and was confirmed infected on the 18th.

  • Another Tokyo man in his 20s visited Kosei Chuo General Hospital (Meguro Ward) on the 16th between 8:30–9:40 a.m., staying in the main building lobby. He had no recent overseas travel. Symptoms began on the 9th; infection was confirmed on the 17th.

  • A different Tokyo man in his 30s visited the Grandpa Nakano pachinko parlor on the 15th between 10 a.m.–6 p.m. He developed symptoms that night and was confirmed infected on the 20th.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Health Bureau stated that there is no longer any risk of infection from visiting these locations now. However, people who were present during the same time periods should monitor their health, contact a medical institution if symptoms appear, avoid public transportation, and follow medical instructions.

All four patients began with fever, followed by rashes and other symptoms. Officials emphasized: “Measles becomes contagious from the day before symptoms appear. Even if a rash has not developed, fever alone should prompt caution and staying home.”