TOKYO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry of Japan on Monday approved a new broader recognition standard for radiation illness, said officials from a panel of the ministry.

    The new standard, which is to be introduced in April, recognizes as sufferers of the atomic-bomb diseases those who have contracted one of the five diseases -- cancer, irradiation cataract, leukemia, hyperparathyroidism and radiation-induced heart infarction, as a result of exposure to radiation within 3.5 km from the ground zero in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the atomic bombings in August 1945.

    Victims who have been recognized as sufferers of atomic-bomb diseases will be entitled to a special medical allowance of up to 137,000 yen (1,442 U.S. dollars) a month.