A scene from the medical animation “Shingata Influenza no Kyoi,” or “The Threat of New Influenza Strains” DVD, explaining how virulent strains of influenza can even infect people through the toilet.
A new DVD seeks to teach businesses and schools about the threat of virulent new H5N1 influenza strains through the medium of animation.
Some of Japan’s leading creators participated in the production of the DVD, titled “Shingata Influenza no Kyoi,” or “The Threat of New Influenza Strains.” The DVD emphasizes the differences between the dangers presented by the symptoms and virulence of the mild H1N1 Swine Flu and H5N1 Avian Influenza, and calls on viewers to take precautions with the correct information in hand.
The DVD is 18 minutes in length, and was masterminded by “Always San-chome no Yuhi” director Tatsuo Shimamura, with music composed by Michiru Oshima, who provided the music for the long-running TV drama “Tenchijin.” The animated sequences cover topics such as the special qualities of virulent influenza viruses and the damage they could be expected to inflict, among others.
There are already many books out concerning new influenza strains, but the staff at Kairos-inc. — the company behind the DVD — wondered if difficult to comprehend details might not be better understood if presented in an animated format. The image-creation company formed a production committee that called on top creative names such as Shimamura and Oshima, and began work on the DVD in January this year. Supervising the technical aspects of the DVD content was the Infectious Disease Surveillance Center’s head of influenza virus research Masato Tashiro.
The content of the DVD had to be amended in April with the outbreak of Swine Flu, taking pains to explain that the measures needed to counter mild flu strains like Swine Flu, and those needed for virulent strains were different. For instance, in cases of virulent strains, which produce symptoms in every part of the body, the virus can be spread through urine or feces, so even if one is careful of the spray from coughs or sneezes, there is also a danger of infection from toilets used by infected persons.
“If a new flu strain does spread, we don’t want people to assume it’s similar to seasonal flu, but instead hope workplaces and schools will refer (to this DVD) for appropriate countermeasures,” says the production committee.
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