Yoon Ja-young is in charge of articles translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times. She is interested in improving the newspaper through AI.
Q&A on deadly ticks
Health authorities stress preventive measures against deadly ticks, explaining the possibility of infection is low.
By Yoon Ja-young
By Yoon Ja-young
As the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has, so far, confirmed two deaths from severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), concern is growing over the disease transmitted by blood-sucking ticks for which there is no vaccine yet.
The virus spread by the Haemaphysalis longicornis tick causes fever, vomiting or diarrhea, and also can cause multiple organ failures resulting in death. It has killed more than a hundred people in China and Japan during the past few years, and the confirmation of deaths shows that Korea is not safe. One need not worry too much, however, because the health authorities say the possibility of infection is low and the fatality rate is lower than first presumed — around 6 percent according to recent data. The health authorities advise focusing on preventive measures.
The following are frequent Q&As about the ticks, addressed to and answered by the KCDC.
Q. I was bitten by a tick, but I am showing no symptoms for now. What should I do?
A. Currently, 99 out of 100 ticks don’t carry the SFTS virus. Hence, the possibility of being infected by SFTS is extremely low. However, if you have fever as high as 38 to 40 degrees Celsius, or vomiting, or diarrhea within the six to 14 days of latency, visit a clinic nearby and consult a doctor.
Q. I am keeping the tick that bit me. What should I do?
A. In case you have the tick and are suspected of SFTS, the KCDC can check if the tick has the SFTS virus.
Q. What does the Haemaphysalis longicornis tick look like? What size and color is it? Does it have wings?
A. The tick is around 2 to 3 millimeters in size, and has a brownish toned body. It doesn’t have wings.
Q. I found ticks at home on my pet. Are these Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks?
A. The Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks generally inhabit bushes or live around hills, and aren’t common in urban environments. They are also totally different from dust termites often found at home.
Q. Where do the suspected patients mostly reside?
A. Suspected patients are different from confirmed patients. As the ticks are found nationwide, the suspected patients aren’t limited to certain areas. Around five to seven cases are reported daily nationwide, and two have been confirmed as SFTS so far.
Q. What is the best prevention?
A. One doesn’t get SFTS if he or she isn’t bitten by the medium — ticks. What is most important is not to have contact with the ticks.
Q. Which disinfectant sprays should I use?
A. The disinfectant sprays generally contain material that ticks don’t like. Hence, one can use them as an ancillary measure to minimize contact with the ticks. They are available at pharmacies or marts.
Q. What should I do if a pet or livestock is bitten by the ticks?
A. Being bitten by the Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks doesn’t always mean they will become infected with SFTS. There have been no cases reported yet of a person catching a tick from an animal.
Q. Do ticks reside in cities?
A. Such cases are rare but they can exist in bushes within cities. People are recommended to follow the same prevention tips in such places.
Q. Is it transmitted from human to human?
A. SFTS is a disease transmitted through ticks. Unlike diseases transmitted through respiratory organs, one can be infected by the SFTS virus only when a medium exists. Hence, there will be no human to human transmission in ordinary life circumstances.
The KCDC also gives tips on how to prevent being bitten by ticks.
—Wear long sleeves, long trousers and socks to minimize skin exposure.
—Use disinfectant sprays when engaged in outdoor activities, such as mountain climbing or tracking.
—After outdoor activities, take a shower or a bath immediately to get rid of the ticks.
—Wash clothes, underwear and socks after outdoor activities.
—Do not lie on the grass or sleep there.
—When sitting on the grass, use the mat and after using it, wash it and dry it under the sun.
—Do not relieve yourself in bushes if working on farmland.
—When working outdoors, wear garments on which disinfectant spray is applied. Tighten the tips of sleeves and pants, and wear rubber boots.