First Case of Novel Coronavirus Infection 'Wuhan Pneumonia' Reported in Japan

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] On the 16th, NHK and other broadcasters reported that a man in Japan was confirmed to be the first person infected with the novel coronavirus, the cause of the Wuhan pneumonia in China.

According to the report, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that a Chinese man in his 30s residing in Kanagawa Prefecture was confirmed to have contracted the novel viral pneumonia. This man experienced a fever on the 3rd while visiting Wuhan, China, returned to Japan on the 6th, was hospitalized on the 10th, and discharged the day before. He is currently recuperating at home.

This is the first case of a Wuhan pneumonia patient originating from China in Japan. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan tested the man and confirmed a positive reaction to the novel coronavirus the day before.

The man stated that he did not visit the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, where pneumonia patients were concentrated, raising the possibility that he may have come into contact with pneumonia patients while staying in Wuhan.

According to China News Network, as of the 13th, the Wuhan Health and Hygiene Commission reported that 41 patients have been confirmed with Wuhan pneumonia, with one death. Among the patients infected at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, two cases of family infections were found, suggesting the possibility of human-to-human transmission.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare stated that no symptoms have appeared in the family members living with the infected man in Kanagawa Prefecture or in medical personnel, and that "the possibility of infection spread is low." At a regular briefing, Yoshihide Suga, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, said, "Although human-to-human infection has not been confirmed, we will conduct international information gathering and quarantine centered on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and if a patient suspected of being related is identified, we will conduct testing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.