Key Facts
• August 7: Ibaraki confirms first Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) case.
• Patient: 70-year-old man, critical condition, treated in ICU.
• July 28: Symptoms began with 38.5°C fever; hospitalized on August 1.
• Tick bite suspected on left thigh; no travel outside Ibaraki during incubation.
• SFTS first identified in Japan in 2013, spreading from western to eastern regions.
• 2025: Record-high SFTS cases, including first cases in Kanagawa and Hokkaido.
• Ibaraki: Pets infected with SFTS in May and June.
• Nationwide spread highlights urgent need for preventive measures.
Summary
Ibaraki Prefecture reported its first case of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) on August 7, involving a 70-year-old man in critical condition. The patient, who showed symptoms on July 28, was hospitalized after his condition worsened. Medical examination revealed a suspected tick bite on his left thigh, with no travel outside the prefecture during the incubation period. SFTS, a tick-borne viral infection first identified in Japan in 2013, has seen a record-high number of cases in 2025, spreading from western regions to eastern areas like Kanagawa and Hokkaido. Ibaraki also reported pet infections earlier this year. The nationwide spread underscores the importance of public awareness and preventive measures.
