Health Minister Yoichi Masuzoe said on Thursday that Japan will set up fever clinics at hospitals nationwide to exclusively treat people suspected of being infected with the fast-spreading swine flue.

The move is intended to raise the level of the nation's preparedness for a possible outbreak of the lethal disease that has reportedly claimed some 160 lives, as the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday raised the pandemic alert level to Phase 5, indicating that a full pandemic is imminent.

Urging the public to remain calm, Masuzoe said that the government will strive to unfailingly protect the lives and health of the people by means of taking any necessary measures.

Japan will, among others, produce a vaccine for the disease and establish a structure to keep track of antiviral drugs in stock, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2009)