Tick-Borne Infections: Avoid Exposing Skin during Outdoor Activities
The number of patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) — an infectious disease transmitted by ticks — is on the rise. As of Aug. 3, there were 124 reported cases this year, already approaching the annual record of 134 people in 2023.
Ticks that transmit the SFTS virus live in the mountains and grassy areas. Unlike tiny mites that are barely visible, ticks are several millimeters long.
The virus was first identified in China in 2011. First confirmed in Japan in 2013, more than 100 cases of infection have been reported in the country every year in recent years.
With symptoms such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, the disease is also characterized by a decrease in blood platelets. When severely affected, patients suffer from bleeding and consciousness disorders. The fatality rate is said to be as high as 30%.
The majority of people contracting the virus are age 60 or older. Elderly people with reduced physical strength are at high risk of becoming seriously ill, so special care must be taken to prevent them from becoming infected.
Until recently, most cases of infection were reported in western Japan. However, since last month, cases have been confirmed in Kanagawa Prefecture and Hokkaido. There is no doubt that the risk of infection is expanding to eastern Japan.
The central and local governments should analyze infection trends and provide detailed information to raise awareness among the public.
People infected with the SFTS virus have an incubation period of six to 14 days. Those who develop symptoms need to see a doctor. In addition to symptomatic measures such as fever reducers, antiviral drugs for influenza are approved for treating the disease.
It is important to take measures to prevent being bitten by ticks.
When engaging in outdoor activities during summer vacations, it is desirable to wear long-sleeve shirts and trousers that do not expose the skin. Wrapping a towel around the neck and using insect repellent are also effective measures.
When a tick is found stuck on the skin, it is important to be careful not to pull it off forcefully, as this may cause the tick's bodily fluids to enter the system. It is best to have the tick removed by a dermatologist.
There have also been confirmed cases of dogs and cats contracting the virus from ticks. There is also a risk of transmission to people who come into contact with infected pets. People should be careful if they let their cats go outside freely.
In May, a veterinarian in Mie Prefecture died after treating a cat for SFTS and contracting the virus. When handling pets that appear to be ill, it is essential to take thorough precautions against infection such as wearing gloves and masks.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18, 2025)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Japan Today
Japan logs record 135 potentially fatal tick-borne infections in 2025
A record 135 people in Japan have so far been diagnosed with a potentially fatal tick-borne disease in 2025, figures from a national health research body showed Tuesday. Preliminary data from the Japan Institute for Health Security showed cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or SFTS, topped the previous record of 134 people in 2023. More than 10 people have been confirmed to have died of the viral infectious disease this year. The disease is passed to humans via tick bites or the blood of an infected person or animal. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is urging people working outdoors to cover their skin to protect themselves from being infected. Following an incubation period of around six days to two weeks, patients often develop symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of consciousness. Older people are more likely to develop serious symptoms, with more than 90 percent of patients in their 60s and over. SFTS is estimated to have a fatality rate of 10 to 30 percent, and many who die are in their 50s and above. The recorded SFTS cases have generally been concentrated in western Japan areas, with Kochi Prefecture seeing the highest number of patients this year at 14 people. The data also showed instances in central and eastern Japan and as far as the northernmost main island of Hokkaido. Reporting tends to increase in the spring to autumn period when ticks are most active. In the week ended Aug. 10, eight cases were reported in the country, preliminary figures showed. SFTS was first reported in China in 2011 and in Japan in 2013. There is no vaccine for SFTS, although antivirals are available. © KYODO
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- The Mainichi
Japan logs record 135 potentially fatal tick-borne infections in 2025
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A record 135 people in Japan have so far been diagnosed with a potentially fatal tick-borne disease in 2025, figures from a national health research body showed Tuesday. Preliminary data from the Japan Institute for Health Security showed cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or SFTS, topped the previous record of 134 people in 2023. More than 10 people have been confirmed to have died of the viral infectious disease this year. The disease is passed to humans via tick bites or the blood of an infected person or animal. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is urging people working outdoors to cover their skin to protect themselves from being infected. Following an incubation period of around six days to two weeks, patients often develop symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of consciousness. Older people are more likely to develop serious symptoms, with more than 90 percent of patients in their 60s and over. SFTS is estimated to have a fatality rate of 10 to 30 percent, and many who die are in their 50s and above. The recorded SFTS cases have generally been concentrated in western Japan areas, with Kochi Prefecture seeing the highest number of patients this year at 14 people. The data also showed instances in central and eastern Japan and as far as the northernmost main island of Hokkaido. Reporting tends to increase in the spring to autumn period when ticks are most active. In the week ended Aug. 10, eight cases were reported in the country, preliminary figures showed. SFTS was first reported in China in 2011 and in Japan in 2013. There is no vaccine for SFTS, although antivirals are available.
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Tick-Borne Infections: Avoid Exposing Skin during Outdoor Activities
Tick bites that result in viral infections can occur not only while camping and during other outdoor activities in the mountains, but also while weeding in a garden. Diseases caused by these infections have a high mortality rate and should not be taken lightly. The number of patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) — an infectious disease transmitted by ticks — is on the rise. As of Aug. 3, there were 124 reported cases this year, already approaching the annual record of 134 people in 2023. Ticks that transmit the SFTS virus live in the mountains and grassy areas. Unlike tiny mites that are barely visible, ticks are several millimeters long. The virus was first identified in China in 2011. First confirmed in Japan in 2013, more than 100 cases of infection have been reported in the country every year in recent years. With symptoms such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, the disease is also characterized by a decrease in blood platelets. When severely affected, patients suffer from bleeding and consciousness disorders. The fatality rate is said to be as high as 30%. The majority of people contracting the virus are age 60 or older. Elderly people with reduced physical strength are at high risk of becoming seriously ill, so special care must be taken to prevent them from becoming infected. Until recently, most cases of infection were reported in western Japan. However, since last month, cases have been confirmed in Kanagawa Prefecture and Hokkaido. There is no doubt that the risk of infection is expanding to eastern Japan. The central and local governments should analyze infection trends and provide detailed information to raise awareness among the public. People infected with the SFTS virus have an incubation period of six to 14 days. Those who develop symptoms need to see a doctor. In addition to symptomatic measures such as fever reducers, antiviral drugs for influenza are approved for treating the disease. It is important to take measures to prevent being bitten by ticks. When engaging in outdoor activities during summer vacations, it is desirable to wear long-sleeve shirts and trousers that do not expose the skin. Wrapping a towel around the neck and using insect repellent are also effective measures. When a tick is found stuck on the skin, it is important to be careful not to pull it off forcefully, as this may cause the tick's bodily fluids to enter the system. It is best to have the tick removed by a dermatologist. There have also been confirmed cases of dogs and cats contracting the virus from ticks. There is also a risk of transmission to people who come into contact with infected pets. People should be careful if they let their cats go outside freely. In May, a veterinarian in Mie Prefecture died after treating a cat for SFTS and contracting the virus. When handling pets that appear to be ill, it is essential to take thorough precautions against infection such as wearing gloves and masks. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18, 2025)
