Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in East China

A disease called Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), caused by a tick-borne virus, has killed seven and infected at least 60, setting off alarm bells among health officials in East China’s Jiangsu and Anhui provinces.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2020

Key-Points

SFTS is caused by the Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (SFTSV) which belongs to the Bunyavirus family and is transmitted to humans through tick bites.

A tick called Asian Longhorned Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is believed to be the primary vector (carrier) of the virus.

The virus is often transmitted to humans from animals like goats, cattle, deer and sheep and regular contact with these animals makes farmers, hunters and pet owners vulnerable to the disease.

Despite being infected by the virus, animals generally do not show any symptoms associated with SFTSV.

The virus was first identified in China over a decade ago and the first few cases were reported in rural areas of Hubei and Henan provinces in 2009.

Researchers identified the virus by examining blood samples obtained from a cluster of people exhibiting similar symptoms.

The virus eventually travelled to other East Asian nations, including Japan and South Korea, significantly raising the total number of cases. Due to more awareness about the health risks posed by tick bites, the fatality rate of the infection has started to drop significantly.