2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo Report 2022

2020 Summer Olympics in
Tokyo

Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Tokyo environment relevant to infectious disease.....................................................................3
Infection control and management.............................................................................................5
Major infectious diseases of concern and their relevant etiology and epidemiology................6
Infectious disease health services capacity and critical control points......................................8
Role of transport access in affecting risk of infectious disease transmission............................9
References................................................................................................................................10

Introduction
This report discusses about the infectious disease prevention and management planning for
conducting 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Being the public health advisor, I will be
responsible for establishing effective processes for management of potential risks associated
with the successful conducting of the Summer Olympic Games going to be held in Tokyo. In
this event, there will be substantial influx of local as well as international athletes, supporting
staff, spectators and tourists. During this period, when the Olympics will be held, the
population will increase extensively creating excessive stress over the local community
infrastructure resulting in potential public health risks and specifically spreading of infectious
or contagious diseases. So, this report discusses about various disease prevention techniques
and management principles that could be applied to address this issue (Nakamura, Wada,
Yanagisawa, & Smith, 2018).
Tokyo environment relevant to infectious disease
In last few years, various issues related to the health and safety of Tokyo residents have
arisen such as threat of emerging infectious diseases, which include pandemic influenza,
epidemic of Ebola hemorrhagic fever, dengue, food poisoning as well as drug abuse in
shocking quantity. These diversifying health threats are required to be addressed effectively
in order to secure the health and safety of Tokyo residents. In addition, conducting Summer
Olympics in such an environment, when the country is continuously suffering from several
communicable disease outbreaks, require the attention at the local as well as international
level.
In 2014, due to dengue fever outbreaks, firstly in 70 years, Japan suffered autochthonous
transmission. Despite vaccination available for children for diseases preventable through such
as polio, pertussis, tuberculosis, tetanus, measles, rubella, diphtheria, and above 90%

coverage of the population, the risks related to measles and rubella have amplified
substantially in Japan. However, measles has been eliminated from the country in 2015;
around 35 imported cases have been informed in that year, which increased to 159 cases to be
reported in the year 2016, out of which, 22 cases have been registered in Tokyo itself. So,
there is huge possibility that measles could be imported in Japan throughout the Summer
Olympics in 2020 to be held in Tokyo. From 2012 to 2014, rubella epidemic was experienced
all across the nation. Majority i.e. around 68% males of age group between 20 and 39 years
were affected. The increase in the number of international guests suggested that imported
rubella is seldom spread through susceptible populations due to their low vaccination rates. In
2016, out of 125 cases reported, 19 cases were reported from Tokyo.
There is no routine vaccination for Mumps in Japan and the vaccination coverage has been
around 40%. As per the report of the “National Epidemiological Surveillance of Vaccine
Preventable Diseases (NESID),” the proportion of antibody positive individuals has been
around 70%, which is insufficient for the prevention of epidemic diseases. In Tokyo, Mumps
cases have doubled from 2015 to 8526 in 2016, which suggests that mumps are likely to be a
possible danger for the international guests to Summer Olympics 2020. Similarly, Varicella
vaccinations are available due to which, the number of cases have reduced. The risk of
Hepatitis A disease during Tokyo 2020 is supposed to be low, though in 2016; around 65
cases were registered in Tokyo. As per the “Infectious Disease Surveillance Annual Report,”
Tokyo has reported higher number of cases i.e. around 24 cases.
The communicable respiratory diseases such as influenza and tuberculosis are also expected
to arise during Tokyo 2020. The food and waterborne diseases could also enhance during
Summer Olympic 2020, which requires proper addressing by the government. The vector-
borne diseases such as Malaria, Chikungunya, and Zika have also been registered in Tokyo,
so it requires proper addressing.