"Never Lie Down on the Grass!" ... Beware of Ticks

Gyeongbuk Province Urges Caution for Tick-Borne Infectious Diseases Including Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome

Poster for the Prevention of Tick-Borne Infectious Diseases.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] Gyeongbuk Province has urged caution to avoid tick bites during outdoor activities such as working in rice paddies and fields, and camping, to prevent tick-borne infectious diseases like Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) and Tsutsugamushi disease.

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) is an infectious disease that mainly occurs from April to November. It develops after being bitten by a small soft tick carrying the SFTS virus, with an incubation period of 4 to 15 days, and symptoms such as high fever (38~40℃), nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

There is no preventive vaccine, and in severe cases, it can cause death due to a decrease in platelets and white blood cells.

Last year, 25 patients (172 nationwide) were reported in the region, with 6 deaths (26 nationwide).

As of July 11 this year, the number of SFTS patients is 45 nationwide (3 deaths) and 5 in Gyeongbuk (1 death).

First reported in China in 2011, the virus disease has a tick SFTS virus carriage rate of less than 0.5% domestically.

So far, no effective treatment method is known, and only symptomatic treatment is provided, but the fatality rate is very high, ranging from 12 to 47%.

Among the infected, the proportion of agricultural and forestry workers and the elderly is high, so when gathering wild greens or engaging in outdoor activities, it is necessary to wear long clothes to minimize skin exposure and avoid sitting or lying on grassy areas.

Also, upon returning home, washing clothes and taking a bath while following preventive measures is the best method.

‘Tsutsugamushi disease’ is a febrile illness caused by bites from chigger mites living in mountains and fields.

It can occur during wild plant gathering and farming work, and with increased activities such as hiking and camping, it is occurring not only in rural areas but also in urban areas.

Symptoms appear after an incubation period of 1 to 3 weeks and include headache, fever, chills, rash, muscle pain, and cough. In severe cases, bronchitis, pneumonia, myocarditis, and meningitis symptoms may appear.

A 1 cm-sized eschar (black scab) forms at the site bitten by the chigger mite.

Early appropriate antibiotic treatment can lead to recovery, so if symptoms appear, one should immediately visit a medical institution for diagnosis and treatment.

Park Seongsu, Director of Welfare and Health Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “If high fever, vomiting, or other digestive symptoms occur within two weeks after outdoor activities, immediate medical consultation is necessary,” and urged, “Related organizations in the community should cooperate to remove risk factors such as mowing grassy areas where ticks reside.”

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