UCL Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction
23 March 2011
Discussion meeting on the Honshu
(Japan) Earthquake and Tsunami
Professor Virginia Murray
Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection
CRCE/HPA
April 15, 2011
http://www.wpro.who.int/NR/rdonlyres/CAAF2C1E-5B5D-4405-AE96-6D1AAF5367E9/0/JPNEarthquakeSitrepNo4_13Mar2011.pdf
What are the health consequences? –
immediate, medium and long term health risks
• Fatalities
• Other health guidance – trauma, analgesia, compartment
syndrome
• Infectious diseases
• Chemical hazards, health implications associated with fires
and generators
• Building related damage and risks
• Flooding and cold weather risks
• Water and food during extreme weather event or natural
hazard – breastfeeding
• Mental Health
• Value of having a registry of victims and responders
• Radiation hazards
WHO WRPO - Situation summary
• Restrictive requirements shall apply to food business
operators not to distribute the following foods produced in
the respective prefectures: 1) spinach and kakina
harvested in Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gun-ma
prefectures; and 2) fresh raw milk produced in Fukushima
Prefecture.
• 73 food samples exceed the provisional regulation value
for Iodine-131 and 30 food samples exceed the provisional
regulation value for Caesium (200 Bq/kg for milk and 500
Bq/kg for vegetables). Samples which exceeded the
provisional regulation values originated from Gunma,
Fukushima, Chiba, Ibaraki, Nagano and Tochigi
prefectures.
WHO WRPO - Situation Summary Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant
• While electricity from an outside source has not flowed into reactors at this
time yet, all six reactors now have electric connections laid out.
• Operations to supply electricity to cool reactors 1 and 2 were temporarily
suspended due to white smoke from reactor 2 (21 March), but resumed again
in the morning of 22 March; the white smoke is barely visible as of 12:00, 22
March.
• Operations to inject water into reactors 3 and 4 were temporarily suspended
due to grey smoke from reactor 3 (15:55, 21 March); the amount of smoke
has decreased as of 12:00. Water injection activities are still planned for 22
March.
• At the main gate of Daiichi plant, while radiation level peaked temporarily at
18:30 on 21 March, the level declined again at 07:30 on 22 March.
• The maximum radiation level detected within the 60 km area of the Daiichi
plant was the same for 20 and 21 March.
• Radiation levels increased above background levels in the surrounding
prefectures, including Tokyo, 21 March.
WHO – WPRO – Sitrep 13 22.3.2011
• Weather information
• Population status
o Health status, lifeline services and response
o Health care facilities and staff
o Communicable diseases – and internet based ad-hoc
surveillance system
o Tsunami lung
o Mental health
o Food / water / communication / electricity / gas / transport
• Radiation – food and drinking water quality
• International response
• Travel advisories
• Risk communication
• Reducing key infections
• Minimising the health impact of environmental
hazards including radiation, chemicals,
poisonings and extreme events such as
flooding
• Supporting safe and effective biological
medicines
• Co-ordinate investigations
and outbreak control
• Laboratory services
• Advise government
• Respond to international
health alerts
• Co-ordinate investigations
and outbreak control
• Laboratory services
• Advise government
• Respond to international
health alerts
• Co-ordinate investigations
and outbreak control
• Laboratory services
• Advise government
• Respond to international
health alerts
HPA Health advice relevant for travellers to
and from Japan 22 March 2011
As of 22 March 2011, the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to
north-eastern Japan and Tokyo [6]. Travellers should check
with their tour operator, airline and the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office website for current information.
British nationals in Japan are advised to follow local advice
and take steps to ensure their safety and stay away from
coastal areas in the event of further aftershocks and
tsunamis.
The FCO advises British nationals to remain outside an 80
km radius of the Fukushima nuclear power plant [6].
HPA Health advice relevant for travellers to
and from Japan 22 March 2011
British Embassy in Japan is distributing potassium iodide
tablets to British nationals and their dependants; however,
there is no current recommendation to take iodine
prophylaxis. Potassium iodide tablets are a source of stable
(non-radioactive) iodine which can help prevent the thyroid
from absorbing radioactive iodine. Potassium iodide should
only be taken when there is a clear public health
recommendation [9]. Further information on the use of
stable iodine is available on the Health Protection Agency
website.
HPA Health advice relevant for travellers to
and from Japan 22 March 2011
A helpline for individuals who are concerned about British
nationals in Japan is available at 020 7008 0000.
Advice for travellers to affected areas of Japan is available
on the NaTHNaC website and is being updated regularly.
Further precautionary advice can be found on the FCO
website.
Information for health professionals advising travellers
returning from Japan is available from the Health Protection
Agency
Summary
• Response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan is
extraordinary – much for HPA and partners to learn
• HPA is required to work with international partners
• Worldwide, effects of extreme weather events and natural
hazards are apparent, having increasing significance for
human health
• Worldwide, effects of extreme weather events and natural
hazards are apparent, having increasing significance for
human health