A case of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), an infectious disease transmitted by ticks, was confirmed for the first time in Hokkaido earlier this month. In recent years, infection routes have diversified, with cases of transmission from infected cats to humans also being reported. Experts are calling for measures to prevent dogs and cats from becoming infected.
According to the Sapporo Health Center, in late July, a man in his 60s living in the central Hokkaido region noticed a tick bite on his shoulder and removed it. He later developed symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle pain, and visited a hospital. Testing at the city health laboratory confirmed a positive result for SFTS on the 6th of this month.
SFTS is a zoonotic disease that occurs after being bitten by a tick carrying the SFTS virus. The incubation period is 6 to 14 days, and symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and others. There is no vaccine, but the influenza treatment drug “Avigan” is considered an effective treatment.
