MHLW To Equip 3,600 Ventilators To Medical Facilities As Avian Flu Concerns Rise

To better prepare for a possible Avian flu pandemic, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare decided Aug. 27 to equip 3,600 new ventilators to medical facilities nationwide. A total of 360 facilities will get 10 ventilators each, and the ministry has requested ¥2 billion in the FY 2009 budget to cover the cost. As a symptom of the flu virus H5N1 that is currently spreading in Asia, patients suffer from breathing difficulties and other respiratory problems. MHLW's move is in response to concerns that the current stock of ventilators is insufficient for a pandemic. (Click here for more - Japanese language)