'Killer ticks' leave 21 dead in western Japan, spread deadly virus
- 10 years ago
A virus spread by ticks has reportedly left dozens of people dead in Western Japan.
Japan's Infectious Disease Surveillance Centre has warned that the "killer tick" that carries the virus, which causes severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome, or SFTS, can be found in 30 of the country's prefectures, ranging from Hokkaido in the north to the southern island of Kyushu.
The SFTS virus is transferred through the bite of ticks, which are known to inhabit areas with a lot of vegetation and shrubbery.
In addition to causing fevers, the symptoms of the virus include diarrhea and in some cases a lower white blood cell and platelet count, organ failure and even death.
The most recent outbreak of the virus has infected 53 people, leaving as many as 21 people dead.
No effective vaccine for the virus currently exists. Japan's Ministry of Health has warned citizens to be careful and avoid leaving their skin exposed in areas where the tick may lurk.
"When in places where there is a lot of vegetation, people should try not to expose their skin where possible," said Japanese Minister of Health Norihisa Tamura in an official statement.
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Japan's Infectious Disease Surveillance Centre has warned that the "killer tick" that carries the virus, which causes severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome, or SFTS, can be found in 30 of the country's prefectures, ranging from Hokkaido in the north to the southern island of Kyushu.
The SFTS virus is transferred through the bite of ticks, which are known to inhabit areas with a lot of vegetation and shrubbery.
In addition to causing fevers, the symptoms of the virus include diarrhea and in some cases a lower white blood cell and platelet count, organ failure and even death.
The most recent outbreak of the virus has infected 53 people, leaving as many as 21 people dead.
No effective vaccine for the virus currently exists. Japan's Ministry of Health has warned citizens to be careful and avoid leaving their skin exposed in areas where the tick may lurk.
"When in places where there is a lot of vegetation, people should try not to expose their skin where possible," said Japanese Minister of Health Norihisa Tamura in an official statement.
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