英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 21, 2012)
Parties should unite to pass flu epidemic legislation
新型インフル　緊急事態法制に位置付けよ（1月20日付・読売社説）

The outbreak of a new strain of influenza can take place anytime, anywhere in the world.
　新型インフルエンザは世界のどこで、いつ発生してもおかしくない。

In the event of a new, virulent strain of flu becoming an epidemic, it is estimated that in the worst-case scenario as many as 640,000 people would die in this country alone.
　強毒性の新型が流行した場合、最悪のケースでは、国内だけで６４万人が死亡するとも推定されている。

To prevent such a situation from occurring, it is imperative for the government to take all possible measures in preparation for a flu epidemic.
　そうした事態に陥らないよう、万全の対策を講じておくのは、政府の責務である。

The government plans to submit a bill for special measures legislation to the upcoming ordinary Diet session to deal with the possible future emergence of a new, highly virulent and infectious flu
　政府は、強い毒性と感染力を持つ新型インフルエンザの発生を想定し、通常国会に特別措置法案を提出する。

Both the ruling and opposition parties must cooperate to ensure smooth passage of the bill.
与野党が協力して成立を図るべきだ。

The planned law will define the onslaught of a highly virulent new strain of flu as a "national crisis."
　特措法では、病原性の強い新型ウイルスの襲来を「国家的危機」と位置づける。

To prevent the spread of infection and public disorder, the law will empower the government to take strong, binding steps such as restrictions on or postponement of assemblies and securing the supply and distribution of goods.
感染や混乱の拡大を防止するため、集会制限や物資の流通確保などに、踏み込んだ強制措置をとれるようにする。

Currently, the central government and prefectural governments have already worked out "action plans" to cope with the outbreak of a new strain of influenza.
　現在でも国や都道府県は、新型インフルエンザに対する「行動計画」を策定している。

===

Govt to declare 'emergency'

These measures, however, have no binding power. The central government and local entities can take no stronger steps than "requesting" people to stay home and cancel meetings on a voluntary basis.
ただし、強制力を伴うものではなく、外出や集会などの自粛や中止といった措置を「要請」できるだけだ。

When a new strain of flu broke out in 2009, there was no serious damage, since the virulence of the strain was weak.
　２００９年に新型インフルエンザが発生した際は、毒性の弱いウイルスだったため、大きな被害を出さずに済んだ。

If that strain had been deadly, the government might have been unable to take any effective steps, resulting in serious harm to the public.
だが、もし強毒性だったら、行政は的確な対策を打てず、深刻な被害をもたらしていただろう。

Under the proposed legislation, if a virulent strain of flu becomes epidemic, the government's epidemic countermeasures headquarters will declare an "emergency situation" for affected prefectures.
　検討中の特措法案では、強毒性ウイルスが流行した場合に、政府対策本部が、都道府県単位で「緊急事態」を宣言する。

While restrictions on going out and cancellations of gatherings under the planned law will be sought in the form of government "requests," as currently practiced, the law will make it possible for the government to issue stronger "instructions" if such requests are refused without sufficient justification.
　外出自粛やイベントの中止などは、従来通り「要請」とするが、正当な理由なく拒まれた時に、より強い「指示」が出せるようにする。

The law will also make it possible for the government to requisition land and buildings needed to secure medical facilities when a flu epidemic occurs.
療施設などに必要な土地や建物の使用も可能にする。

To prevent the spread of a deadly flu strain, the government may legitimately need to consider meting out punishments against violators of the law.
感染拡大を防ぐためには、罰則の検討もやむを得まい。

The invocation of the law, however, must be carried out as scrupulously as possible.
　ただ、発動は慎重であるべきだ。

The Civil Protection Law, enacted to prepare this country for an armed attack, states that the curtailment of private rights should be kept to a minimum out of respect for the freedom and rights of the people.
私権制限規定は武力攻撃に備える国民保護法にもある。
同法は国民の自由と権利を尊重し、制限は必要最小限にする、としている。

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Prepare for goods shortages

Immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake, shortages of goods occurred across the country.
　東日本大震災では発生直後、全国で物資の不足が起こった。

The shortages were attributed to panic buying as well as the disruption of distribution networks.
流通網の寸断に加え、買いだめの影響も大きかったと見られる。

If a containment campaign is enforced in areas affected by a new strain of virulent flu virus, hoarding may occur in reaction to government requests for people to stay home, while local distribution networks may be snarled.
新型インフルエンザ発生時も、感染地域を封じ込めれば流通網は滞り、外出自粛で買いだめが生じる。

To deal with such a situation, the government, by means of the planned legislation, should enhance the power of administrative authorities to ensure sufficient supplies of goods at stable prices, in part by preventing merchants or suppliers from refusing to sell at the time of a deadly flu epidemic.
　その場合でも、売り惜しみを防ぎ、安定した価格で品物を十分に供給できるよう、行政の権限を強化しておく必要がある。

The lessons learned from the bitter experience of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami must be used to minimize the damage caused by a deadly flu strain.
大震災の教訓を生かすべきだ。

The circumstances the planned law aims to deal with have much in common with various other emergencies.
　特措法の想定は、さまざまな緊急事態の場合と共通する。

The legislation should lead to the strengthening of preparatory measures for emergencies, such as coordination of communication between the central and local entities, securing local medical services and stockpiling daily necessities.
国と自治体の連携、地域の医療や必需品の備蓄など、平時の備えを点検・強化することにもつなげたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 20, 2012)
（2012年1月20日01時15分 読売新聞）