Outdoor Activities During Harvest Season and Chuseok: Beware of Infectious Diseases from Ticks and Rats

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Outdoor activities increase during the autumn harvest season and the Chuseok holiday, which is just a week away. As outdoor activities rise, infections caused by ticks and rodents are expected to increase. It is important to be aware of the symptoms and prevention guidelines for these febrile infectious diseases.

Infectious diseases caused by ticks include Tsutsugamushi disease and Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS). These diseases occur when bitten by certain ticks carrying bacteria or viruses that cause illness.

Tsutsugamushi disease is an acute febrile illness that occurs when bitten by the larva of a mite infected with the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. Symptoms appear after an incubation period of 1 to 3 weeks and include fever, headache, chills, rash, and eschar (scab).

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome is a febrile illness transmitted by bites from ticks infected with the SFTS virus. The incubation period is 4 to 15 days, shorter than that of Tsutsugamushi disease. Symptoms include high fever ranging from 38 to 40 degrees Celsius, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and various other symptoms such as hematuria, bloody stools, and thrombocytopenia.

To prevent tick-borne infectious diseases, it is recommended to wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and hats before farming or outdoor activities. Using tick repellents is also an effective method. When engaging in outdoor activities, use a mat and avoid leaving clothes in tall grass. After finishing activities and returning home, immediately shake off and wash your clothes.

If bitten by a tick, do not remove it yourself; visit a medical institution promptly. If hospital access is difficult, use tweezers (not hands) to grasp the tick’s head and slowly remove it vertically, then disinfect the bitten area.

Infectious diseases transmitted by rodents such as house mice and striped field mice also require caution during this period. Rodent-borne diseases include Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) and Leptospirosis.

HFRS is an acute febrile illness caused by infection with hantaviruses such as Hantaan virus and Seoul virus. The virus is transmitted to humans through skin wounds or respiratory tracts when dried saliva or urine from infected rodents becomes airborne with dust. Symptoms include fever, bleeding signs, and renal failure, with an average incubation period of 2 to 3 weeks.

Leptospirosis is caused by infection with pathogenic Leptospira bacteria and is transmitted through direct exposure to the urine of infected animals or contact with contaminated water or soil. The incubation period ranges from a minimum of 2 days to a maximum of 30 days. Symptoms include high fever, headache, chills, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. To prevent HFRS, it is advisable to avoid direct contact with rodents. Vaccination is recommended for farmers, soldiers, and researchers who frequently engage in outdoor activities or work with rodents.

To prevent leptospirosis, wear waterproof work clothes and boots when working in flooded areas. Skin exposed to contaminated water must be thoroughly washed. If fever symptoms appear after activities such as harvesting or flood recovery, visit a medical institution or public health center for diagnosis and treatment.

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