First Case of 'SFTS' Reported in Daejeon This Year... Caution for Wild Tick-Borne Infectious Diseases

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The first case of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) has occurred in Daejeon this year.

The Daejeon Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 9th that a woman in her 50s residing in Gongju, Chungnam, tested positive for SFTS while receiving treatment at Chungnam National University Hospital for symptoms such as muscle pain and general fatigue.

It is estimated that the patient was infected with SFTS after being exposed to ticks in a grassy area two weeks ago.

SFTS is typically transmitted from April to November through Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks carrying the causative virus. Symptoms appear after an incubation period of 6 to 14 days following a tick bite and include high fever ranging from 38°C to 40°C, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

According to the city’s Health and Environment Research Institute, there is currently no vaccine to prevent SFTS, and caution is necessary as infection can lead to a decrease in platelets and white blood cells, which may result in death. The fatality rate of SFTS patients is known to range from 12% to 47%.

Jeon Jae-hyun, director of the city’s Health and Environment Research Institute, stated, “Since there is no preventive vaccine for SFTS, the best measure is to avoid tick bites,” and added, “If high fever, vomiting, or other digestive symptoms appear within two weeks after outdoor activities during the peak SFTS season, immediate medical consultation is necessary.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.