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Yomiuri Shimbun
17 hours ago
- Health
- 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)
Asahi Shimbun
18-07-2025
- Health
- Asahi Shimbun
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.
NHK
08-07-2025
- Health
- NHK
Tick-borne infection cases surge in Japan
A research institute in Japan says the number of patients with a tick-borne viral infectious disease called Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, or SFTS, has hit a record high for this time of year. Patients with SFTS mostly get the infection through tick bites. The Japan Institute for Health Security, or JIHS, says 91 cases were reported in 24 prefectures from the start of this year through June 29. The figure exceeded the previous high of 82 cases reported in the same period in 2023. An NHK survey of local government offices found that at least nine deaths from SFTS were reported in Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Kagawa and Miyazaki Prefectures. Maeda Ken, a senior JIHS official, says a rise in the number of wild animals such as deer and wild boars may have increased the number of ticks that suck blood from the animals, possibly resulting in more SFTS cases. SFTS can be transmitted not only by tick bites but also from cats and dogs that develop the disease after being infected with the virus. The JIHS says the number of cats confirmed to be infected was eight in 2017, when a nationwide survey began, but the number rose sharply to 194 last year. This year, 36 cases were reported nationwide through March, and in May an infection of a pet cat was reported in Ibaraki Prefecture as the first case in the Kanto region. In Mie Prefecture, a veterinarian who treated a cat that developed SFTS became infected and died in May. Maeda says areas where cats have been confirmed to be infected are spreading, so caution is needed for infection from cats to humans. He says the blood and secretions of cats that have developed SFTS contain large amounts of the virus, so their owners and veterinarians need to be especially careful. Maeda says it is important that cat owners keep their pets indoors. He is also calling for the use of tick repellents for cats and dogs.
Asahi Shimbun
30-06-2025
- Health
- Asahi Shimbun
1st tick-borne virus infection of pet dog reported in Ibaraki
The health ministry has created a poster warning pet owners about ticks, which can carry infectious diseases such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, known as SFTS. (Takahiro Takenouchi) A pet dog in Ibaraki Prefecture has been confirmed to have contracted a potentially fatal tick-transmitted disease, according to sources, as the risk of infection in pets is likely increasing. The severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus is a zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks and causes fever, vomiting and diarrhea. The fatality rate for humans is 30 percent, 40 percent for dogs and 60 percent for cats. Also in Ibaraki Prefecture, a pet cat infection, believed to be the first in the Kanto region, was confirmed in May. Prefectural officials are expected to soon announce the two cases. 'I was aware that SFTS had been confirmed in Ibaraki Prefecture, so when I saw the test result, I felt that (the dog) had tested positive after all,' said a veterinarian who treated the infected canine. According to the veterinarian and prefectural officials, the dog with confirmed SFTS is a 3-year-old, midsize male. The dog enjoys mountain climbing and trekking with his owner. It had also been in the mountains in early June. The dog was brought to the veterinary clinic on June 13 with symptoms of fever exceeding 40 degrees and a loss of appetite. No evidence of tick bites was found, but the dog was scratching a lot after entering the mountains, the veterinarian said. The canine's fever did not recede the following day, and a blood test showed low platelet and white blood cell counts. The veterinarian felt that the symptoms were typical of SFTS. In mid-May, a pet cat that temporarily escaped outdoors in the prefecture tested positive for SFTS and died. The veterinarian had heard of the details through a notice from the prefecture and through connections among other veterinarians. The veterinarian, thinking, 'This could be a big problem,' consulted the prefectural government about a suspected case of SFTS. On June 19, detailed blood tests revealed that the dog tested positive for the SFTS virus. The dog in this case is recovering after receiving antipyretics and other medications. However, since there have been cases of the SFTS virus being transmitted from pets to humans, the veterinarian has asked the dog's owner not to touch the canine's bodily fluids, to thoroughly disinfect, and to refrain from walking the pet for a time. The veterinarian is consulting with the prefecture to have another test conducted on the dog in July to confirm the negative result. According to the veterinarian, the dog's owner is knowledgeable about SFTS and infection prevention, and to date, no human infections have occurred in the prefecture, including the veterinarian. The veterinarian said, 'As a potentially serious disease, I want pet owners to know that they are at risk for SFTS, too. Preventing ticks is the first step.' According to the Ibaraki prefectural government, 10 cats and four dogs have been tested so far, including the infected dog, and this was the second case to test positive for the virus. In May, a veterinarian involved in the hospitalization and treatment of a cat in Mie Prefecture was found to have died from SFTS. In June, SFTS-related human deaths were reported in Shizuoka and Aichi prefectures as well. The deaths are believed to have been caused by tick bites during weeding and other activities.
Japan Times
25-06-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Tick-borne disease cases, with one death, confirmed in Kanto region
Cases of tick-borne diseases have been reported in the Kanto region, with one confirmed death, prompting prefectural governments to urge residents to be vigilant. Of particular concern is 'severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome' (SFTS), which is primarily transmitted through ticks infected with the virus. The incubation period ranges from 6 days to 2 weeks, with symptoms including fever and diarrhea. SFTS has a fatality rate of 27%. On Monday, a woman in her 60s from Suruga Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture, died from SFTS, said Ryutaro Yagi, an official at the infectious diseases division of the Shizuoka City Public Health Center. This is the first confirmed death from SFTS in the prefecture since statistics began being compiled in 2013, said Junya Noda, a prefectural official. The woman began experiencing fever, fatigue and digestive issues on June 16. She was hospitalized on June 19 and died shortly after being diagnosed with SFTS. There were no visible tick bites, and the route of infection remains unknown, Yagi said, adding that Shizuoka City is 'urging residents to take preventive measures.' Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when entering grassy areas helps reduce skin exposure, the health ministry said, while bright-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks. The health ministry added that the risk of tick bites increases from spring to fall, when ticks are most active. Other cases of tick-borne diseases have also been reported in Shizuoka Prefecture. A man in his 60s from Tenryu Ward in the city of Hamamatsu visited a medical institution on June 19 with symptoms including fever, and was diagnosed with SFTS on Monday, according to the city's health center. While the route of infection remains unclear, three tick bites could be seen on the man's body. A city official noted that there is a high possibility that the man got infected while farming. Ticks can also carry a disease known as 'Japanese spotted fever,' with symptoms including high fever and a rash. In Shizuoka Prefecture, a woman in her 80s died last month from the disease, and as of June 13, eight cases of infection have been confirmed, Noda said. Tick-borne diseases can be fatal for pets. In the city of Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture, a cat died after being infected with SFTS last month, according to the city's official website. Residents were urged by the city to keep pets indoors and take precautions to reduce the risk of infection.
