Asia and Oceania

Medical facilities are good, but the cost of treatment is high. Hospitals and clinics are well equipped and staff highly trained. There are very few British doctors practising in Japan, but some Japanese doctors will have had experience abroad and may speak English. You are expected to pay the whole cost of any treatment you receive.

See the local laws and customs section of this advice for information on Japanese law covering prescription and over the counter medicines.

In the 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 9,600 adults aged 15 or over in Japan were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at less than 0.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Japan and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

 

For more general health information see travel health.

A (H1N1) - swine flu

There are confirmed human cases of A (H1N1) - swine flu in Japan. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website has further details, including numbers of confirmed cases in each country. You should monitor local media reports for the latest developments and advice. A dedicated swine flu page can be found on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website. There are currently no quarantine measures in place at Japanese ports of entry. For further Japan-specific information on swine flu please go to the UK in Japan website.

Avian Influenza

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution, you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

 

You should read this advice in conjunction with avian and pandemic influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.