In Japan, concerns rose over possible animal-to-human transmission after a vet died from the SFTS virus. He treated a cat with the virus in Mie prefecture, developed symptoms, and passed away despite being hospitalized. An autopsy didn’t reveal the typical tick bite that spreads SFTS, prompting questions about the infection source.
The JVMA urged its members to enhance SFTS prevention. Daisuke Tsukamoto, a JVMA spokesperson, informed This Week in Asia that the infection’s origins remain uncertain. The health ministry collaborates with prefectural authorities to uncover details. Promptly, an alert was sent to JVMA members, emphasizing SFTS information dissemination and infection prevention strategies.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), part of Japan’s Health Ministry, has issued a 17-page report for veterinarians. It covers SFTS signs in animals, tick bite prevention, dangers from infected animal fluids, and safe animal disposal. The report educates vets on the virus and its spread.
In 2011, a Chinese researcher positively identified SFTS. Re-examination of earlier cases led to confirming cases from 2006. In the same year, China reported 571 SFTS cases and 59 deaths. SFTS was first recognized in Japan in 2013 with 40 cases. By April this year, there were 1,071 confirmed cases with 117 deaths.
SFTS has no cure, leading to fatal multiple organ failure in most cases. The fatality rate in cats exceeds 50%. In 2019, the NIID classified SFTS as a new viral hemorrhagic fever due to its high fatality rate, likening it to dengue and Ebola.
In Japan, the virus is carried by wild animals like deer, boars, hedgehogs, cattle, goats, and sheep. Ixodidae ticks, such as the Asian long-horned tick, can move from these animals to pets in grassy areas or even to humans passing through undergrowth.
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