RP suspends consular services in Osaka over flu

The Philippines suspended consular services in Japan's western city of Osaka for four days on Tuesday due to the spread of a new strain of the flu virus, Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Citing public safety concerns, the Philippine consular office in Osaka advised its staff to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel to "maintain their state of health" after Japan reported a sharp rise in influenza A (H1N1) cases in the past few days.

The DFA said in a note on its website (www.dfa.gov.ph) the Osaka office would be closed from Tuesday until Friday "in the interest of public safety".

More than 150 people have been reported infected by the new strain of influenza virus in Japan's western areas of Osaka and Hyogo prefectures.

The Philippines remains free of the new flu virus after testing 65 people with flu-like symptoms since May 1. Three cases remained under observation, the health department said in a statement on Tuesday.

as of 05/19/2009 10:18 PM

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