Tick-borne New virus detection Infectious Disease Research Laboratory January 31 6:35
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases revealed that a new virus was detected in men who had symptoms such as fever after being bitten by a tick. The patient recovered after his general condition worsened, such as being unable to walk at one point, but the lab says it may need to find more patients and needs to establish a testing regime.
According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, a man in his forties who picked wild plants in Hokkaido in May last year noticed that he was bitten by a tick. He had a fever and pain in both feet, making it impossible to walk and was hospitalized.
The man had a decrease in white blood cells and platelets, and his general condition deteriorated, including inflammation of his leg muscles. However, as a result of treatment, he recovered and was discharged from the hospital.
When Hokkaido University and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases examined blood and other data, it was discovered that a new virus had not been reported before.
The virus is close to the virus that causes the tick-borne infection, SFTS = "severe febrile thrombocytopenia syndrome".
"There is a possibility that we will find more in the future. It is necessary to promote research for the development of diagnostics and therapeutic methods and establish a testing system," said Masayuki Saijo, director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Virus. I am.