The government is trying to determine the condition of a Japanese national in Beijing who Chinese authorities say may be infected with SARS, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Monday.
China's health ministry reportedly said that of the 402 patients hospitalized in the country for suspected cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome, four are foreign nationals, including one Japanese.
Fukuda said Japan has only heard that the patient is suffering SARS symptoms, such as a cough and fever, but has not developed pneumonia.
"This is a 'probable case,' and it is not included in the World Health Organization's SARS count," Fukuda said. "We are currently talking with the Chinese authorities."
It is not known whether the person is a resident of China or a tourist. The name, sex and occupation of the person also remain unknown.
Fukuda said that while no confirmed cases of SARS have been reported in Japan, there are nine people who may be infected with the deadly virus.
"I've heard that these people are in relatively good condition," he said.