THE latest autopsy report on patients who died of COVID-19 reveals that the virus primarily attacks the lungs, and there is not enough evidence to support its damage to other organs.

The report, published on the Journal of Forensic Medicine on Friday, said the novel coronavirus triggers inflammatory symptoms in the respiratory tracts and air sacs of the lungs.

Its damage to the lung tissue in the form of pulmonary fibrosis is less severe than SARS, but the symptoms of swelling in the lungs are more pronounced, the report said.

Results on COVID-19’s damage to the heart, kidneys, brain, spleen and digestive tract are inconclusive, and will require further investigation, the report said.

Liu Liang, the forensic doctor responsible for the autopsy, said in an interview this week that the autopsy report will help medical professionals on the front line to improve their treatment methods and help evaluate the efficacy of test drugs in clinical trials.

The lung damage is particularly noticeable and viscous secretions can be found seeping through the air sacs, which may explain the drowning sensation reported by patients of the disease in severe and critical condition, said Liu.

From Feb. 16 to 24, a team of scientists from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei Province, had conducted nine autopsies, local media reported. Earlier this month, scientists from Shanghai also concluded two autopsies.

Wang Guoping, a medical professor from the university, said an autopsy is the most direct way of unveiling the secrets of the virus, and it serves as one of the key ways to understand the pathogen’s mechanism and cause of death. (China Daily)