A man in his 40s dies after being bitten by a wild tick in Gangwon... 4th case this year

7 Cases in the First Week of October... Tick Bite Prevention Awareness Needed

▲Small Sophie Mite [Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Seven patients with 'Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS)', caused by bites from wild ticks, have been reported in Gangwon Province within the first week of October, resulting in the fourth death.

According to Gangwon Province quarantine authorities on the 8th, a man in his 40s, Mr. A, residing in Wonju City, was admitted to a nearby general hospital on the 5th and died two days later. He was confirmed positive for SFTS on the same day.

It is presumed that Mr. A was exposed to wild ticks during a Chuseok holiday ancestral grave visit, and the exact infection route is currently under investigation.

Since the first reported case of SFTS in Gangwon Province in 2013, about 30 patients have been reported annually.

This year, 15 patients have been reported, and with 7 new cases in the past week on top of 8 cases until September, a sharp increase in patients is expected, requiring special caution.

SFTS mainly occurs from April to November after being bitten by ticks carrying the virus, causing high fever and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Among patients, a high proportion are agricultural and forestry workers aged 50 and above, and the mortality rate is higher among the elderly.

Since there is no preventive vaccine or specific treatment, it is essential to strictly follow tick bite prevention guidelines during outdoor activities.

Kim Young-soo, Director of the Health and Environment Research Institute, stated, "To prevent SFTS, we will maintain a rapid infectious disease diagnosis system and strengthen vector surveillance projects throughout the province."

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