The Fukuoka District Court ordered the state and drug companies Wednesday to pay a combined 168 million yen in damages to 11 of 18 people infected with the hepatitis C virus from tainted blood products.

The 18 plaintiffs from Kyushu and Okinawa had claimed that the state and two drugmakers -- Mitsubishi Pharma Corp. and Benesis Corp., a Mitsubishi Pharma subsidiary -- were responsible for their infections and demanded 1.17 billion yen in damages.

Presiding Judge Keiji Suda said the state was responsible as it failed to take steps to stop the use of the tainted blood products.