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Tue, May 24, 2022 | 17:00
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Man dies from tick-bite
야생진드기 바이러스로 올해 첫 사망자 발생
Posted : 2014-05-12 16:56
Updated : 2014-05-12 19:02
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By Lee Hyo-sik

A 64-year-old man in South Chungcheong Province died from a tick-borne virus after being hospitalized for a week, putting Korea's health authorities on high alert over the deadly disease.

This is the first confirmed death this year from the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), which took the lives of 17 people last year.

According to the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Monday, the man was hospitalized on May 3 after exhibiting symptoms of SFTS, which include vomiting and high fever. He died a week later.

His 63-year-old wife had also contracted SFTS earlier but fully recovered. She has been released from hospital.

The virus, spread by ticks, causes fever and vomiting, and platelet and white blood cell levels to drop. The virus can also cause multiple organ failure and death.

In 2013, a total of 36 Koreans were infected with the tick-borne virus. SFTS was first reported in China in 2009 and in Korea, the first case was reported in May last year.

When bitten by ticks, the virus causing SFTS normally undergoes a dormant period of six to 14 days. Then, those infected suffer from a high fever, vomiting and diarrhea. There is no known cure or vaccine for SFTS, the KCDC said, adding that patients must visit hospital immediately and receive treatment aimed at boosting the immune system.

The agency stressed the importance of avoiding tick-bites, saying that people should wear long sleeves and boots when engaging in outdoor activities from April to November when ticks are active. It added that disinfectants must be used after rescuing or treating wild animals and clothes must not be taken off where animals are bred or treated.


야생진드기 바이러스로 올해 첫 사망자 발생

'야생진드기'로 알려진 작은소참진드기가 옮기는 감염병인 중증열성혈소판감소증후군(SFTS)으로 인해 올해 첫 사망자가 발생했다.

11일 질병관리본부에 따르면 충남에 거주하는 64세 남성이 발열, 구토 등의 증상을 보여 지난 3일 병원에 입원해 치료를 받다가 10일 숨졌다.

이 환자는 지난 2일 올해 첫 SFTS 확진을 받은 63세 여성 환자의 남편으로, 사망 전에 역시 SFTS 확진을 받았다. 부인은 지난달 먼저 증상을 보여 입원했다가 완치해 퇴원한 상태다.

김영택 질병관리본부 감염병감시과장은 '부부가 동일 환경에서 감염된 것으로 보인다'며 '남편이 면역기능이 더 약해진 상태였다'고 설명했다.

김 과장은 '올해 들어 현재까지 SFTS 의사환자 가운데 확진 환자는 이들 2명'이라고 밝혔다.

SFTS는 2009년 중국에서 처음 발생한 진드기 매개 바이러스성 감염병으로, 우리나라에서는 지난해 5월 처음 환자가 발생한 후 모두 36명이 감염됐고 이 가운데 17명이 숨졌다.

바이러스를 가진 작은소참진드기에 물리면 6~14일의 잠복기를 거쳐 38도 이상의 고열과 구토, 설사, 혈뇨, 피로감, 근육통 등의 증상이 나타난다.

현재로서는 별도의 치료제가 없고 증상에 따른 내과적 치료를 받아야 한다. 유효한 백신도 아직은 없어 진드기에 물리지 않는 것이 가장 중요하다.

질병관리본부는 진드기가 왕성하게 활동하는 4∼11월에 주로 환자가 발생하므로 텃밭작업 등 야외활동을 할 때 ▲ 풀밭에 눕거나 옷을 벗어두지 않기 ▲ 일상복과 작업복 구분해 입기 ▲ 야외활동 후 옷 털고 세탁하기 등의 예방수칙을 지켜달라고 당부했다. (연합뉴스)
Emailleehs@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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