Japan to Start Comprehensive Research on W. Nile Fever

Japan to start comprehensive research on W. Nile fever

TOKYO, July 19 (Xinhua) — Japan has decided to begin comprehensive research on West Nile fever, which it is believed could enter Japan from the United States or Siberia at any time, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced Tuesday.

The ministry will develop a vaccine and a way to detect the disease faster, build a database on West Nile fever viruses found in the world, and conduct other kinds of related research.

West Nile fever, whose virus is transmitted via mosquitoes, has in recent years been observed in the United States every summer and killed about 100 of at least 2,500 people stricken with the disease there last year. The disease was also found in Siberia in recent years, which means migrating birds may carry the virus to Japan, according to the ministry.

Building a database will help analyze the virus at the molecular level, which will help develop treatment methods and prevention of spreading of the disease, the ministry said.

Some 80 percent of West Nile fever patients show no symptoms, such as sudden fever, headache and loss of appetite, while less than 1 percent of patients become seriously ill, it said.