Welcome to the August newsletter! We use this service to provide you the most up-to-date safety and security related information we have available on a monthly basis. Should we receive any time-sensitive information of a security-related nature, we will use this channel to keep you informed immediately. In addition to sharing security-related information, we will continue to include in the monthly version news and information of a more general nature. Here are the topics for this month: -- Passport Fees to Change August 19, 2002 -- Frequently Asked Questions -- US$10 Million for You -- West Nile Virus Moves West -- Hormone Replacement Therapy Alert -- Useful Internet Addresses ------------------------------------------ Security Situation ------------------------------------------ The security situation in Japan remains the same with no new threat information reported from either the American or the Japanese side other than the July 1 worldwide caution we distributed via this channel on July 2. ------------------------------------------ Passport Fees to Change August 19, 2002 ------------------------------------------ Fees for U.S. passports will change world-wide on August 19. -- Adult (age 16 and over) renewals will be US$55. -- Renewals for children (under age 16) will be $40 -- First-time or lost passport replacements for adults (age 16 and over) will be $85. -- First-time or lost passport replacements for children (under age 16) will be $70. Most renewals can be processed by mail. Please see our web site at http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwh7130c.html for details, as well as downloadable application forms. ------------------------------------------ Frequently Asked Questions ------------------------------------------ Q: Can I get married at the Embassy? A: Marriage in Japan consists of a civil marriage registration by the couple at a Japanese municipal government office. Only this civil registration constitutes a legal marriage in Japan. Ceremonies performed by religious organizations in Japan, while perhaps more meaningful, are not legal marriages. Consular officers unfortunately cannot perform marriages so you can't get married at the Embassy. Learn more at http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwh7114a.html Q: No really, I think I got married at the Embassy. Do you have a record of my marriage? A: The Embassy keeps no files locally of the different documents we issue, such as a Consular Report of Birth, or documents dealing with the death of an American in Japan. These records are instead filed in Washington. We also do not keep any files of Japanese civil documents, such as records of marriages and divorces in Japan. These records are held by the Japanese government. Other records, such as birth certificates for people born in the U.S., are stored in the state of origin. A "Certificate of Witness to Marriage" used to be issued by an American embassy or consulate reflecting the facts of a marriage abroad in which at least one party is an American Citizen. A consular officer must have attended the ceremony. This accommodation was discontinued in 1985. Records are kept in Washington, not in Tokyo. You can learn more about obtaining various records at http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwh7114c.html Q: I'm buying a car in Japan, or starting a business, or registering my company, or... and I need something called a "sign certificate" proving my signature is my signature. Can you help? A: Americans are often asked for a "sign certificate", or a "signature certificate" when buying a car in Japan, renting an apartment or opening a business. "Sign certificate" forms are available on our web site, and then we will notarize the form for you. Learn more here: http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwh7126a.html Q: OK, then how about the signature guarantee that my mutual fund company says I must obtain? A: Sorry, as opposed to the ubiquitous "sign certificate" needed in Japan to, for example, buy and sell a car, signature guarantees are often required by U.S. banks or mutual fund companies. Unfortunately, the Embassy cannot legally perform a signature guarantee. Please check with your bank, here or in the U.S., for additional information. Q: What else do you do for American Citizens? A: Please take a look at http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwhatoz.html for an alphabetical listing of our services. You can also search our web site at http://usembassy.state.gov/tokyo/wwwhsearch.html if you are looking for something specific. ------------------------------------------ US$10 Million for You ------------------------------------------ If you have an email account, you no doubt have received one or more urgent messages asking for your help in transferring some huge sum of money out of Africa, typically from Nigeria or Sierra Leone. Often times the message will purportedly be from a relative of a former ruler or important politician, and will include an offer to give you an enormous fee for your help. These messages are scams of long-standing. We have heard of a variation on these scams in Japan, where you may be shown some large amount of currency, likely counterfeit, and asked to help spend it. Should such an offer be made to you, report the details to the Japanese police. More information on email scams is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/specrptrv2africaemailjuly02.htm ------------------------------------------ West Nile Virus Moves West; Now in Manitoba, N. Dakota & Texas ------------------------------------------ West Nile virus has passed the 97th meridian on its trek west, now detected as far west as Dallas Co., Texas; Grand Forks Co, North Dakota; and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Winnipeg lies about 150 miles north of Grand Forks on the Red River of the North. In 2002 West Nile virus has been detected in at least 23 states and Washington DC in the US, as well as in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec provinces of Canada. Reports from North Dakota, Manitoba and Quebec are the first ever for West Nile virus. In addition West Nile virus has recently been reported for the first time this year in Arkansas and Wisconsin. The following are recent reports since Fri 12 Jul 2002 (in alphabetical order by state/province. [see ERAP website for additional and historical information: ]. Though only a handful of human cases have been reported this year, precautions against mosquitoes should be taken. Caution is advised for evening outdoor activities, and the use of protective clothing and DEET is suggested. West Nile is one of about nibe insect-borne infections found in the US. ALABAMA -- So far 2 birds tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) from Baldwin Co (SW AL, on Gulf Coast and Florida border) and 7 counties have detected WNV in 2002. ARKANSAS -- The first positive WNV result for 2002 was announced 12 Jul 2002 from St. Francis County (E. Arkansas) in a bird found 22 Jun 2002. In 2001, 4 birds tested positive from El Dorado (Union Co; S. AR, on Louisiana border), Benton County (NW AR, on Oklahoma and Missouri borders), and Fort Smith (Sebastian Co; W. AR, on Oklahoma border). ILLINOIS -- 5 more counties detect WNV and 2 more mosquito pools found in Cook Co (Chicago Metro Area). The 5 new counties are: Boone Co (N. IL, on Wisconsin border), DeKalb Co (N. IL), Franklin Co (S. IL), Mercer Co (W. IL, on Iowa border), Sangamon Co (Central IL, location of Springfield), and Will Co (NE IL, on Indiana border). WNV has thus far been detected in 17 counties in Illinois. Health Dept says that WNV is likely present in all counties in Illinois. INDIANA -- WNV was detected in Bartholomew Co (S. Central IN) for the first time. This is the sixth county to detect WNV in 2002. KENTUCKY -- 3 more counties detect WNV: Jefferson Co (N. KY, location of Louisville, on Indiana border), Laurel Co (SE KY), and Woodford Co (Central KY). 6 counties have now detected WNV in 2002. MARYLAND -- A correction from the USGS NBII website: "On 3 Jul 2002, National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) mistakenly reported confirmed presence of West Nile virus in a Maryland horse. No horses in Maryland have tested positive for the Virus in 2002. NBII regrets this error." The statement had been based on a preliminary test, results of which are not yet posted on the Maryland WNV website. MASSACHUSETTS -- 3 more cities/towns detect WNV, for a total of 5 cities in 3 counties. New detections are in Boston (Suffolk Co, E. MA), Cambridge (Middlesex Co, NE MA), and Marblehead (Essex Co, NE MA, on Massachusetts Bay). MICHIGAN -- Macomb County (SE in Detroit Metro Area) became the sixth county to detect WNV in 2002. MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA -- 12 Jul 2002, preliminary WNV-positive results on 2 crows were announced from Beaconsfield, a suburb of Montreal (S. Quebec). This is the first time that WNV has been detected in Canada east of Ontario, and in Quebec. NORTH DAKOTA -- WNV was detected for the first time ever in North Dakota in a young gelding from Grand Forks County (E. ND, on Minnesota border). The horse began showing signs of West Nile 30 Jun 2002 and was euthanized 2 Jul 2002. Confirmation of the positive preliminary result is expected this week. OHIO -- 8 more counties detect WNV (Erie, Licking, Medina, Morgan, Paulding, Scioto, Williams, and Wyandot counties) and 2 more counties report WNV-positive mosquito pools (Montgomery and Hamilton). The Ohio health department believes WNV is most likely present in all 88 counties, although it is only confirmed in 41 counties. WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA -- A preliminary WNV-positive crow was found 7 Jul 2002 for the first time ever in Winnipeg, Manitoba (S. Manitoba). This is the first time that WNV has been detected in Canada west of Ontario. WISCONSIN -- The first detection of WNV in 2002 was in a dead crow announced 11 Jul 2002 from Milwaukee (Milwaukee Co, SE WI), found on 25 Jun 2002. (From ProMed Digest, Friday, July 19, 2002) ------------------------------------------ Hormone Replacement Therapy Alert ------------------------------------------ The following information, Published by the AACE (American Association of Clinical Endocrinology), was released by the Embassy's Medical Unit to the American Community. As reported today by several national media outlets, researchers have stopped the estrogen plus progestin portion of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a clinical trial designed to assess the major health benefits and risks of the most commonly used hormone preparation in the United States on healthy menopausal women, after overall health risks were found to exceed the health benefits. An article to be published in the July 17 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) outlines the WHI's rationale for this action. Jacques E. Rossouw, M.D., of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, and colleagues from the WHI, reported that the trial was stopped because of apparent increased risks of invasive breast cancer, as well as coronary heart disease, stroke, and pulmonary embolisms in study participants. There were some benefits of estrogen plus progestin noted during the study, including fewer cases of hip fractures and colorectal cancers, but the overall health risks outweighed the benefits. The estrogen plus progestin part of the WHI is a randomized controlled primary prevention trial that was planned to last for 8.5 years. It was stopped on May 31, 2002 after a average follow-up of 5.2 years because of the health safety concerns. A parallel trial of CEE (estrogen) only in women who have had a hysterectomy is being continued, and the planned end of this trial if March 2005, by which time the average follow-up with be about 8.5 years. Study results indicated: -- The rate of women experiencing coronary heart disease (CHD) events was increased by 29 percent -- Stroke rates were 41 percent higher in women receiving estrogen plus progestin, -- Participants had double the rates of venous thromboembolism (blood clots) -- Invasive breast cancer rates increased by 26 percent -- Total cardiovascular disease was increased by 22 percent -- The benefits included a 37 percent reduction in colorectal cancer rates, hip fracture rates reduced by one-third and total fractures reduced by 24 percent. Approximately 38 percent of postmenopausal women in the United States use hormone replacement therapy," according to background information in the article. The absolute risk of harm to an individual woman is very small. As the authors (Rossouw et al) point out, the increased risk of estrogen/progestin combinations means that in 10,000 women, there will be 7 more coronary heart disease events, 8 more breast cancers, 8 more strokes, and 8 more pulmonary emboli, but 6 fewer colorectal cancers and 5 fewer hip fractures. Nevertheless, when counting all events over the 5.2 years of the trial, the excess number of events in the active drug group was 100 per 10,000 (or 1 in 100 women). This is still a small risk, but it demonstrates that risks from the drug add up over time. AACE's position on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is that ultimately, each woman as she enters menopause, must work with her own physician to determine whether or not HRT is right for her. For many, the decision will be straightforward with potential for significant benefit in many areas. For others, the decision will be much more difficult requiring a careful balance of the known benefits and potential risks. ------------------------------------------ Useful Internet Addresses ------------------------------------------ US Federal Government: http://www.firstgov.gov; US Dept of State Consular Affairs: http://travel.state.gov; US Federal Aviation Administration: http://www.faa.gov; U.S. Internal Revenue Service: http://www.irs.gov; Social Security Administration: http://www.ssa.gov; Federal Voting Assistance: http://www.fvap.ncr.gov; U.S. Customs Service: http://www.customs.ustreas.gov (information including importation of household pets, animal and plant health inspection, etc); U.S. Department of Agriculture: http://www.usda.gov (information on food products, food safety and inspection service);