Japan releases coronavirus symptom info on 104 people including cruise passengers

TOKYO -- Japan's Defense Ministry has released details on the symptoms shown by 104 people including Diamond Princess cruise ship passengers who were found infected with the new coronavirus while the vessel was anchored off Yokohama, south of Tokyo.

The ministry uploaded the information to the official website of the Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo.

The SDF Central Hospital examined 112 people including Diamond Princess passengers who were infected with the virus. The hospital then put together the details of the symptoms of 104 of them who agreed to cooperate.

Computerized tomography (CT) tests conducted by the hospital found abnormal shadows in the lungs of roughly half of those who tested positive for the virus but showed no symptoms as well as in those who were only showing mild symptoms. The conditions of about one-third of those with shadows in their lungs subsequently worsened.

Defense Minister Taro Kono said the ministry disclosed the information at the urging of organizations involved in countermeasures against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"I think it's rare that research was conducted on the symptoms of so many cases using CT. We uploaded the information on the website because we were asked by various organizations to release it at an early date," the minister told a news conference on March 24.

(Japanese original by Yusuke Tanabe, Political News Department)