Why does Japan have so few cases of COVID-19?

EMBO Mol Med. 2020 May 8;12(5):e12481. doi: 10.15252/emmm.202012481. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread to many countries around the world, but the infection and death rates vary widely. One country that appeared to have kept the infection under control despite limited societal restrictions is Japan. This commentary explores why Japan may have, up to now, been spared an escalation of the SARS-CoV-2 infections.

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • BCG Vaccine / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Communicable Disease Control
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / genetics
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Culture
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
  • Genetic Variation
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Pandemics
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / genetics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / genetics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • BCG Vaccine
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • musk
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2