Hekinan/Edmonds - 2009 Student Exchange Cancelled

It is with sad news, that Edmonds Commission received the following letter from our counterparts in Hekinan, Japan.

June 15th, 2009

The Honorable Gary Haakenson
Mayor
City of Edmonds

Dear Mayor Haakenson,

On behalf of the citizens of Hekinan, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for your cooperation in the mutual exchange programs to you and the citizens of our sister city, Edmonds.

With the outbreak of the influenza A (H1N1) virus, there were the confirmed cases in Japan, as you know.
Moreover, Influenza pandemic alert has been raised to Phase 6. "The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic." the Director-General of WHO said at the press conference on June 11th.

The City of Hekinan and the Hekinan Sister City Association have been preparing to execute the junior high & high school student exchange program. However, in view of the following points, we decided to discontinue 2009 students exchange programs, receiving Edmonds students and dispatching Hekinan students.

1. Statement by WHO Director-General on June 11th, 2009

2. In Aichi prefecture, the person who returned from the United States got new influenza A (H1N1) virus.

3. In Japan a person getting new flu must be isolated to a special medical institution for one week at least.

4. New influenza caused the people who will accept a visitor from foreign countries uneasiness.

5. The vicinity cities decided to cancel student's exchange program recently.

As a result of the repeated meeting between the City of Hekinan and Hekinan Sister City Association, we were forced to make a decision to discontinue 2009 exchange programs.

We are very sorry for the students and the people who have worked hard for the program.

We would most humbly like you to understand our situation and idea for Crisis-management and accept our decision.

Very truly yours,


Masanobu Negita
Mayor
The City of Hekinan


Masashi Kuroda
President
The Hekinan Sister City Association