The Rate of Underascertainment of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Infection: Estimation Using Japanese Passengers Data on Evacuation Flights

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Abstract
From 29 to 31 January 2020, a total of 565 Japanese citizens were evacuated from Wuhan, China on three chartered flights. All passengers were screened upon arrival in Japan for symptoms consistent with novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection and tested for presence of the virus. Assuming that the mean detection window of the virus can be informed by the mean serial interval (estimated at 7.5 days), the ascertainment rate of infection was estimated at 9.2% (95% confidence interval: 5.0, 20.0). This indicates that the incidence of infection in Wuhan can be estimated at 20,767 infected individuals, including those with asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic infections. The infection fatality risk (IFR)—the actual risk of death among all infected individuals—is therefore 0.3% to 0.6%, which may be comparable to Asian influenza pandemic of 1957–1958.
Funding Information
  • Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (JP18fk0108050)
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (17H04701, 17H05808, 18H04895 and 19H01074; R.K.: 18J21587)
  • Inamori Foundation (NA)
  • Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (JPMJCR1413)
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (NA)
  • China Scholarship Council (NA)