Veterinarian dies from tick-borne disease after treating infected cats in west Japan
TSU -- A veterinarian in Mie Prefecture who treated cats infected with an ixodid tick-borne disease has died from the same illness, the local veterinarians' association told the Mainichi Shimbun on June 13.
The veterinarian is believed to have contracted "severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS)" from one of the cats, prompting the Japan Veterinary Medical Association, which was notified by the Mie prefectural veterinarians' association, to call for caution during treatment.
According to a report by the prefectural association, the veterinarian hospitalized two cats, a 9-month-old male and female, each showing symptoms of SFTS for one week to 10 days in late April, sending samples to a private testing facility while providing treatment.
On May 6, the veterinarian began experiencing lethargy and loss of appetite, and was taken to the hospital with breathing difficulties on the night of May 8. Tests confirmed that the vet had SFTS, and the attending physician reported the case to the public health center in accordance with the infectious diseases control law. The veterinarian died on May 12. No tick bite marks were reportedly found.
Meanwhile, the public health center investigated the animal hospital run by the veterinarian and the cats' owners, confirming that neither hospital staff nor owners showed any symptoms. Both cats were confirmed to have SFTS but apparently recovered after hospitalization and have since shown no symptoms.
SFTS has an incubation period of about six to 14 days before causing symptoms such as fever and diarrhea. The disease is notable for its high fatality rate, reaching up to 30%. According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1,071 human cases and 117 deaths were reported in Japan between March 2013 and the end of April 2025.
In March 2024, a case was reported in which a physician contracted SFTS from a patient, marking the first confirmed human-to-human transmission in Japan. Cases of transmission from pets have also been reported.
(Japanese original by Emi Shimomura, Tsu Bureau)
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Veterinarian dies from tick-borne disease after treating infected cats in west Japan
TSU -- A veterinarian in Mie Prefecture who treated cats infected with an ixodid tick-borne disease has died from the same illness, the local veterinarians' association told the Mainichi Shimbun on June 13. The veterinarian is believed to have contracted "severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS)" from one of the cats, prompting the Japan Veterinary Medical Association, which was notified by the Mie prefectural veterinarians' association, to call for caution during treatment. According to a report by the prefectural association, the veterinarian hospitalized two cats, a 9-month-old male and female, each showing symptoms of SFTS for one week to 10 days in late April, sending samples to a private testing facility while providing treatment. On May 6, the veterinarian began experiencing lethargy and loss of appetite, and was taken to the hospital with breathing difficulties on the night of May 8. Tests confirmed that the vet had SFTS, and the attending physician reported the case to the public health center in accordance with the infectious diseases control law. The veterinarian died on May 12. No tick bite marks were reportedly found. Meanwhile, the public health center investigated the animal hospital run by the veterinarian and the cats' owners, confirming that neither hospital staff nor owners showed any symptoms. Both cats were confirmed to have SFTS but apparently recovered after hospitalization and have since shown no symptoms. SFTS has an incubation period of about six to 14 days before causing symptoms such as fever and diarrhea. The disease is notable for its high fatality rate, reaching up to 30%. According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1,071 human cases and 117 deaths were reported in Japan between March 2013 and the end of April 2025. In March 2024, a case was reported in which a physician contracted SFTS from a patient, marking the first confirmed human-to-human transmission in Japan. Cases of transmission from pets have also been reported. (Japanese original by Emi Shimomura, Tsu Bureau)
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This newly released information offers hope to historians, that it might provide clues to help uncover some of its activities and the army's vast network of biological warfare units deployed across China. Takegami could not believe that his father served in a unit that was described as having close ties to Unit 731. PERSONAL ITEMS OFFERED CLUE TO HIS PAST After he returned to Japan after the war, Miyashita worked for a public health center. Takegami remembered his father as a dedicated worker. He woke up early to mow their farm's grass before going to work, occasionally enjoying drinking, but never got drunk. He did not take up any particular hobby, but just contented himself with doing his job. Takegami grew increasingly curious about his father's mysterious past. But as a pensioner, he had limited economic means to conduct an extensive search. 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'The released rosters will enable us to track down its members and unearth previously unknown accounts, hopefully advancing studies to unravel the Imperial Japanese Army's extensive network of germ warfare units,' Nishiyama said.
