By Kang Hyun-kyung
Concern is growing over the rise in suspected cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) transmitted by blood-sucking ticks.
The health authorities of Jeju Island reported Sunday a fresh case suspected of being infected with the tick-borne virus. So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has confirmed two deaths here since last October.
An 82-year-old woman identified by her last name Heo was hospitalized last week after showing symptoms similar to SFTS, according to the KCDC.
Heo had high fever, vomiting and diarrhea after she planted lettuce and beans in her front yard garden two weeks ago. She is under treatment at a local hospital.
The health authorities sent a blood sample to the KCDC to check if she has contracted the virus ― the result will be available early next month ― according to officials.
Heo was the latest in a series of people suspected of being infected with the virus after two elderly citizens’s deaths were confirmed to have been caused by the virus which killed a number of people in China and Japan. The two farmers died after exhibiting symptoms of high fever, vomiting and diarrhea after working in their fields.
Since then, several more cases of suspected SFTS have been reported to the health authorities.
The health authorities said there are no vaccines yet against the disease, encouraging the general public to pay extra caution to prevent being bitten when they do outdoor activities.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs unveiled anti-infection guidelines. Ticks typically live on a host, and most SFTS infections identified in China involved farmers in mountainous areas.
The ministry recommended the general public to wear long sleeves, not to lie down or sleep on grass and to take a shower after returning home from outdoor activities.
It also advised citizens to use anti-bacterial, disinfectant sprays if they suspect they have been bitten by a tick.