Kanagawa woman develops SFTS after being bitten by a tick
Kanagawa prefectural officials announced on July 17 that a woman in her 60s has contracted a tick-borne disease and believe transmission occurred near her home, making this the first human case reported in the Kanto region.
The resident of Matsuda, Kanagawa Prefecture, developed symptoms including fever and diarrhea on June 28 before being hospitalized.
A genetic test conducted by the Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Public Health confirmed she had severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a viral infection transmitted by ticks.
This was the prefecture's first documented case of a human being infected with SFTS.
After further inquiry into her recent activities, it was concluded that a tick likely bit the woman while she was doing farm work or weeding near her home.
According to the prefecture, SFTS cases have a mortality rate of at least 10 percent. By the end of April this year, 117 people in Japan had died from the disease.
The woman living in Matsuda has since been discharged from the hospital and is recovering.
The prefecture is urging the public to wear clothing that covers the skin and to avoid forcibly removing ticks if bitten, advising instead to see a doctor.
In 2013, the first case of SFTS in Japan was confirmed in Yamaguchi Prefecture in a patient with no history of overseas travel.
Since then, SFTS cases have gradually spread eastward from western Japan. As of April this year, the easternmost confirmed case occurred in Shizuoka Prefecture.
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Kanagawa woman develops SFTS after being bitten by a tick
The Kanagawa prefectural government is urging residents to seek immediate medical attention if bitten by a tick following the prefecture's first human case of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. (Provided by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases) Kanagawa prefectural officials announced on July 17 that a woman in her 60s has contracted a tick-borne disease and believe transmission occurred near her home, making this the first human case reported in the Kanto region. The resident of Matsuda, Kanagawa Prefecture, developed symptoms including fever and diarrhea on June 28 before being hospitalized. A genetic test conducted by the Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Public Health confirmed she had severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a viral infection transmitted by ticks. This was the prefecture's first documented case of a human being infected with SFTS. After further inquiry into her recent activities, it was concluded that a tick likely bit the woman while she was doing farm work or weeding near her home. According to the prefecture, SFTS cases have a mortality rate of at least 10 percent. By the end of April this year, 117 people in Japan had died from the disease. The woman living in Matsuda has since been discharged from the hospital and is recovering. The prefecture is urging the public to wear clothing that covers the skin and to avoid forcibly removing ticks if bitten, advising instead to see a doctor. In 2013, the first case of SFTS in Japan was confirmed in Yamaguchi Prefecture in a patient with no history of overseas travel. Since then, SFTS cases have gradually spread eastward from western Japan. As of April this year, the easternmost confirmed case occurred in Shizuoka Prefecture.
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