Update: Nuclear Emergency in Japan

Updated: November 10, 2011

Travel Health Notice

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean east of Japan’s island of Honshu. Authorities in Japan declared a nuclear emergency following the loss of power to ten nuclear reactor units in three separate nuclear power plants (Onagawa, Fukushima Daiichi and Fukiushima Daini). The cooling systems at both Daiichi and Daini experienced problems. Daiichi experienced explosions in three units (Nos. 1, 2 and 3) and a fire occurred at another unit (No. 4).

The Japanese Government is working closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is taking extreme efforts to manage the radiation event.

The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that travellers monitor the updated situation reports about the event posted by the Japanese government and the Western Pacific Regions of the World Health Organization.

For more information on Japan and travel security, visit the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website.

Where is radiation a concern?

Based on the information available, the Japanese government has placed certain districts and towns, most of which fall within a 30 km radius of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Okumacho, under recommended or pending evacuation orders.

A map of the evacuation zones is available from the Japanese government.

Areas outside the evacuation zones do not have radiation levels associated with a health risk. There is no health risk associated with radiation to Canadians travelling into or out of Japan, provided they have not been within the evacuation zones. In addition, using the Tohoku Expressway and the Tohoku Shinkansen Railway is safe.

Food and Water safety

Japanese authorities have put in place monitoring programs to identify food and water with increased levels of radioactive contamination. For up-to-date information on current restrictions on the distribution and/or consumption of contaminated food and/or water in specified prefectures please refer to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare .

Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are in regular contact with Japanese authorities and will continue to provide information to Canadians as the situation evolves.

Recommendations

Consult a doctor, nurse or health care provider, or visit a travel health clinic preferably six weeks before you travel.

The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends:

1. Against all travel within 30 km of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, as well as all travel to districts and towns that have a recommended or pending evacuation order from the Japanese government .
   1. Travelling within the evacuation zones poses a risk to health.
   2. Travellers living or visiting the affected areas are advised that they may be exposed to higher levels of radiation than in Canada. To maintain the lowest possible exposure to radiation, travellers are advised to actively and regularly seek out and follow the advice of local Japanese authorities in matters related to protective measures.
   3. Travellers are advised to follow advice of the Japanese government if they have been in the evacuation zones.
2. To follow the advice of Japanese authorities regarding food and water consumption and protective measures such as potassium iodide (KI) by monitoring updates from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.  
3. To choose foods produced and manufactured in other regions of Japan less impacted by the current emergency as an extra precaution.