Of an estimated 2,600 people -- apart from hemophiliacs -- who received treatment with unheated imported blood products in the 1980s, some 1,900 have died, although not all causes of death have not been confirmed, according to Diet testimony Friday.
Yutaka Fukushima, parliamentary vice minister of health and welfare, gave the figures at a meeting of the House of Representatives Committee on Health and Welfare, in response to a question posed by Satoru Ienishi of the Democratic Party of Japan.
Late last month, the ministry began considering taking steps to conduct checkups for hepatitis C for the people who received blood products.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.