Tokyo, Aug 19 (IANS) — Japan has reported 135 cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a potentially fatal tick-borne disease, so far this year, surpassing the previous record of 134 cases in 2023, according to data released by the Japan Institute for Health Security.
More than 10 deaths have already been confirmed in 2025, local media reported.
SFTS is transmitted to humans through tick bites, or via the blood of infected people and animals. The disease typically incubates for six days to two weeks, with common symptoms including fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of consciousness.
Elderly individuals face the highest risk, with over 90% of cases recorded among people aged 60 and above. The illness carries a fatality rate of 10–30%, with most deaths occurring in patients over 50.
Most infections this year have been concentrated in western Japan, with Kochi Prefecture reporting the highest number at 14 cases. Cases have also emerged in central, eastern, and northern Japan, reaching as far as Hokkaido.
Health authorities have urged people working outdoors to wear protective clothing during tick season, which runs from spring through autumn. In the week ending August 10 alone, eight new cases were reported.
First identified in China in 2011 and in Japan in 2013, SFTS has no vaccine, though antivirals are available. Between 2010 and 2019, China recorded nearly 14,000 cases, including 713 deaths, with an average annual fatality rate of 5.2%, according to UK government data.