TOKYO: Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases has said it confirmed the first domestic case of human-to-human transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or SFTS, a tick-borne viral disease.

The disease was transmitted from a patient to a doctor, but the doctor’s symptoms have improved, the institute said.

The doctor in his 20s attended a man in his 90s who was diagnosed with SFTS after visiting the emergency outpatient unit in April last year.

After the patient died, the doctor performed such procedures as removing his catheter. The doctor wore a face mask and gloves but no goggles.

Nine days after the patient’s death, the doctor complained of a fever and headache. Following a medical examination, he was diagnosed with SFTS.

Genetic analysis of the viruses in the doctor and the patient found that they were identical, establishing that the case was person-to-person transmission.

Cases of human-to-human infection have been reported in China and South Korea, but there had been no such report in Japan.

The institute said it is necessary to remind medical workers to take thorough infection control measures, such as protecting eyes with face shields when patients’ blood may be scattered.

JIJI Press