Latest news with #JIHS
Japan Times
08-05-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Japan bolsters pandemic readiness with new health crisis institute
As Japan marks two years of COVID-19 being reclassified into a lower-risk category under the country's infectious diseases control law, the government is accelerating its efforts to prepare for future outbreaks. The Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS), established in April, represents the centerpiece of a strengthened framework designed to apply hard-learned lessons from the early missteps of the pandemic. 'By bringing together diverse knowledge and expertise, we aim to reinforce our health crisis management system,' said Norihiro Kokudo, president of JIHS, during the organization's inauguration ceremony. The institute combines the functions of the former National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) to create an integrated research and advisory body. JIHS conducts research that ranges from basic virology to clinical studies, while also providing scientific counsel to policymakers and communicating information to the public. The organization's launch comes amid a broader shift in Japan's pandemic preparedness infrastructure following COVID-19's reclassification to Class 5 — the same tier as seasonal influenza — on May 8, 2023. In the event of a serious outbreak of an infectious disease, the institute is tasked with alerting the government, which would then activate its contingency plans and coordinate with prefectural authorities to implement a response. Takaji Wakita, deputy head of the JIHS, said the institute would provide 'solid scientific knowledge' to both the government and the public, as the country seeks to bolster its preparedness for future pandemics. In an interview with Jiji Press in April, Wakita, a virologist who previously headed the NIID, said the lessons of COVID-19 had driven the creation of the new agency. 'The experience during the coronavirus pandemic showed that information gathering, analysis, and the provision of scientific insights were insufficient,' he said. He pointed to shortcomings in Japan's infrastructure for the development of vaccines and treatments. 'Our reflections on that led to the establishment of JIHS,' he added. 'We're building a system in which doctors can both treat patients and engage in clinical research to develop therapeutics.' Wakita served as chair of the health ministry's advisory board throughout the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis. He now plays a key role in the newly consolidated organization, which merges the NIID with the NCGM — an institution with both research and hospital functions. 'From vaccine R&D to treatment and workforce training, an integrated approach is essential,' Wakita said. 'We aim to respond not only to infectious diseases but to health crises more broadly.' The government has emphasized preparedness during noncrisis periods, but Wakita cautioned that this can be difficult. 'What makes infectious disease countermeasures challenging is that, in normal times, there are no patients,' he said. To bridge that gap, JIHS began monitoring acute respiratory infections — including the common cold — in April, gathering patient data and analyzing specimens from designated medical institutions across the country. In doing so, it hopes to detect potential new pathogens at an earlier stage. 'By collecting broad data, we can detect anomalies like the emergence of unknown infectious diseases,' Wakita said. 'We will provide the government with steady, science-based advice.' Translated by The Japan Times
Yomiuri Shimbun
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yomiuri Shimbun
New Pandemic Response Institute Aims to Achieve Swift Initial Reaction Through Stronger Information Collection System
The Yomiuri Shimbun The building of the Japan Institute for Health Security in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, which was established in April One month since the launch of the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS), a new organization of experts meant to prepare for the next infectious disease crisis in Japan, new initiatives have been started based on lessons learned from delays in the response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts include strengthening information gathering on infectious diseases. In order to realize a prompt initial response to emergencies, it is essential to build a system of close cooperation with local governments and hospitals nationwide from normal times and continue to thoroughly disseminate information to the public. 'Experience with the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us the importance of preparedness. We will be able to respond immediately to the next pandemic, no matter when it occurs,' said JIHS President Norihiro Kokudo. The JIHS was formed through the merger of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, which has been responsible for research and trend surveys on infectious diseases, and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, which runs a general hospital. There are about 3,900 staff members at the JIHS, including doctors and researchers who are involved in matters from basic research on pathogens to treatment of patients in an integrated manner. To support government decision-making, the JIHS provides scientific knowledge to the Cabinet Agency for Infectious Disease Crisis Management, which serves as the command center for the government's infectious disease response, and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. On April 7, the JIHS began a fixed-point survey of acute respiratory infections (ARI). Before the start of the JIHS, medical institutions reported the number of patients for known pathogens, such as influenza. But in the ARI survey, the JIHS focuses on cold-like symptoms, such as cough and sore throat, and collects information on outbreaks. By monitoring trends in the number of patients suspected of carrying infectious diseases whose pathogens are not yet known, the JIHS aims to quickly detect the spread of unknown infectious diseases through testing to speed up the initial response. Improving efficiency The JIHS will strengthen emergency surveys conducted immediately after the outbreak of a new virus or another disease is confirmed, which is called the 'first few hundred' studies. It is intended to analyze medical examination information, blood, nasal membrane and other patient data to quickly determine the characteristics of pathogens, including infectivity, infection routes, symptoms and severity. Based on this, the government will decide on infection control measures, such as the length of isolation of patients. Emergency surveys were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic as well. But, since there was no network of medical institutions to collect patient information, there was nothing to rely on besides the personal connections of researchers. Norio Omagari, head of the infectious disease clinical policy division of the JIHS, said, 'We'd like to promote the establishment of a close cooperation system among medical institutions during ordinary times to ensure surveys can be conducted promptly and reliably, and to efficiently consolidate information through digitalization.' Compared to Europe and the United States, Japan lagged behind in the development of vaccines and therapeutic agents for COVID-19. However, as the JIHS has both research and hospital functions, it will be possible to immediately confirm the effectiveness of candidate drugs found by research sections at the hospital that also accepts patients. Start in ordinary times In the two years since COVID-19 symptoms were classified as Category V under the Infectious Diseases Control Law in May 2023, influenza and various other infectious diseases have continued to spread. This spring has also seen a sharp increase in both whooping cough cases, with continuous severe coughing as a symptom, and measles, which is highly contagious. The JIHS will begin disseminating information to the general public on these familiar infectious diseases from as early as May. Their characteristics and precautions against them will be briefly summarized and made available on its website. Nobuhiko Okabe, advisor at the Kawasaki City Institute for Public Health who served as a member of the government's subcommittee on measures against COVID-19, said, 'If we communicate well with the public and gain their trust, they will carefully listen to our advice in case of an emergency.' During the pandemic, experts who advised the government repeatedly held press conferences and directly called on the public to take measures. Izuru Makihara, a professor of public administration at the University of Tokyo, said, 'The reason behind this is that the government and public administrations did not fully accept the sense of urgency felt by experts.' Based on this, he added, 'It is essential for the government and the JIHS to communicate well on a daily basis to clarify their respective roles in order to avoid confusion in the event of an emergency.'
Yomiuri Shimbun
27-04-2025
- Health
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Get Latest Measles Information Before Traveling Abroad, Experts Warn as Number of Cases in Japan Increases
The Yomiuri Shimbun People at the departure lobby of Narita Airport on Saturday Cases of measles in Japan are increasing, with many patients believed to have been infected with the highly contagious disease overseas. Many people are expected to travel abroad during the Golden Week holidays, and experts are urging them to obtain the latest information on the spread of measles in the nation they plan to visit. They should also keep an eye on their health after returning to Japan. According to the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS), 78 people were confirmed to have been infected with measles this year as of April 13, already exceeding the 45 cases reported in 2024. Of the 78 cases in Japan, 39 people were believed to have been infected overseas. This included 30 people who are believed to have caught measles in Vietnam, three in Thailand and two in the Philippines, the JIHS said. Another 30 people contracted the disease in Japan, and the point of infection was not identified for nine people. People with insufficient immunity develop symptoms that can include fever and rashes 10 to 12 days after infection. Severe cases can be fatal, as they lead to pneumonia or encephalitis. People who have never contracted measles before and have not been vaccinated should be especially cautious. 'People who will travel to an affected area need to confirm their vaccination history in advance and monitor their health for two weeks after returning home,' said Atsuo Hamada, a specially appointed professor at Tokyo Medical University and an expert on travel medicine. People who develop a fever or rashes should contact a medical institution immediately and go see a doctor without using public transportation, Hamada said.
The Mainichi
24-04-2025
- Health
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Japan's new centralized disease control agency has heavy responsibility
Japan must utilize lessons learned from challenges that emerged during its response to the coronavirus to enhance its preparedness for future pandemics. This month, the government established the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS), a new national institution that will serve as a central hub for infectious disease research and treatment. It integrates two existing bodies -- the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, which oversaw advanced medical care, and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. By consolidating observations of disease outbreaks, pathogen analysis and patient treatment, the JIHS aims to increase information-gathering efficiency and bolster research capabilities. This centralized strategy should enable the institution to swiftly identify effective prevention and treatment methods for infectious diseases and incorporate them into national response measures. The establishment of this new organization stems directly from reflections on Japan's COVID-19 response. The primary goal of measures against infectious diseases is to contain outbreaks as much as possible to prevent a collapse of the medical system. Despite this fundamental objective, delays in conducting testing and arranging hospitalization contributed to widespread confusion during the recent pandemic. Furthermore, policymakers were slow to adapt their approaches in response to changes in patient numbers and virus mutations. Responding to these issues, the government established the Cabinet Agency for Infectious Disease Crisis Management in 2023 to be a central command during emergencies. The JIHS will not only provide expert guidance to this agency, but will also assume a critical role in medical provision and personnel training. During the coronavirus crisis, Japan notably fell behind Western nations in the rapid development of drugs and vaccines. To advance such initiatives, establishing networks of medical institutions capable of administering clinical trials is crucial. The JIHS is expected to take a leading role in creating and managing this infrastructure. Additionally, effectively communicating scientific knowledge to the public in an easy-to-understand manner remains essential. In balancing infection control measures with socioeconomic activities, the institution is expected to provide appropriate advice to the government to help shape effective policies. If misinformation spreads, the JIHS should step forward with direct and accurate communication to citizens. Even under normal conditions, the body should leverage various means, including social media, to consistently establish itself as a reliable information source. With increased globalization, the risk that infections could swiftly spread worldwide has intensified. Against this backdrop, the decision by the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump to withdraw from the World Health Organization raised concerns about reduced global coordination capacity. Japan has already accumulated significant experience in supporting health initiatives in developing countries. The JIHS should deepen relationships with international research institutions and lead efforts to further strengthen global cooperative frameworks.
