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On August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a ministerial meeting on countermeasures against the Ebola Virus Disease at the Prime Minister’s Office. A female patient, who had presented fever symptoms after returning to Japan from the Democratic Republic of Congo in July and had been suspected of being infected with Ebola, tested negative on August 4. Despite that, this meeting was convened to affirm close cooperation between the relevant ministries and agencies to put every effort into this matter, in preparation for a situation where a similar case could occur in the future.
 
At the meeting, a discussion was held on responses to the Ebola virus disease.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“With regard to the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)’ last month. We are facing a grave situation internationally.
 
Amidst these developments, with regard to the patient who had presented fever symptoms upon returning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo recently, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and relevant institutions conducted an emergency test and other response measures. It has been confirmed that she was not infected with Ebola.
 
On this occasion, we handled this situation accordingly through a series of measures such as strengthening our quarantine policy in response to the PHEIC declaration. Meanwhile, it is extremely important to make our government-wide crisis management system completely prepared.
 
I would like to ask the relevant ministers, in particular, the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, to cooperate closely with the relevant institutions, based on the basic direction that we have decided on today, to make every possible effort, including the thorough implementation of quarantine measures and establishment of prompt testing and medical treatment systems, as well as international collaborations. At the same time, I also ask you to provide timely and accurate information to the citizens.”
 
*When travelling overseas for a trip or other reasons, please check public health notices of the destination, such as epidemics of infectious diseases, and practice sufficient precautions in your actions at the destinations. Moreover, when returning to Japan, if you have any health concerns, please consult with quarantine officers. If you have a fever or other symptoms upon returning to Japan, please consult with the nearest medical institution or public health center.