Minamata disease is caused through the absorption of methyl mercury into the body through various environmental sources, primarily through seafood. In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis, coma, and death follow within weeks of the onset of symptoms. It was in May 1956, that M. d. was first officially "discovered" in Minamata City, south-west reg … While people living outside of the Minamata area had an average level of 4ppm, people living in Mina… A congenitalform of the disease can als… Minamata disease (Japanese: 水俣病, Hepburn: Minamata-byō), sometimes referred to as Chisso-Minamata disease (チッソ水俣病, Chisso-Minamata-byō), is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning. The court also ordered Chisso to pay $2.18 million in damages to the plaintiffs. Minamata disease, sometimes referred to as Chisso-Minamata disease, is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. Minamata disease (M. d.) is methylmercury (MeHg) poisoning that occurred in humans who ingested fish and shellfish contaminated by MeHg discharged in waste water from a chemical plant (Chisso Co. Ltd.). Symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, narrowing of the field of vision and damage to hearing and speech. Signs and symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, loss of peripheral vision, and damage to hearing and speech. In April 2001, the Osaka High Court determined that the government's Health and Welfare Ministry should have begun taking regulatory action to stop the poisoning at the end of 1959 after researchers concluded that Minamata disease was caused by mercury poisoning. In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis, coma and death follow within weeks of the onset of symptoms. A congenital form of the disease can also affect fetuses. The level of mercury in the body is tested with hair samples and it is widely agreed that when these levels are higher than 50ppm (parts per million), there is likely to be nerve damage.