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Severe febrile thrombocytopenia syndrome, an infectious disease caused by tick bites, is called SFTS for short.
When a Korean research team investigated dogs with SFTS, it was found that six out of ten were exposed to ticks on city trails rather than forests.
Cases of human transmission through dogs have also been reported, so caution is required.
Reporter Im Kyung-ah reports.
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Seoul Olympic Park.
Just a few steps away from the neatly constructed promenade and grassy plaza, you will find a lush road.
The ticks that carry severe febrile thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) mainly live in these places.
[김태희]
“I got it once, so I’ve been treated for a month. I always spray something like a (mite) repellent and make sure I take the medicine. When I go for a walk, I stop by and get tested once.”
When a domestic research team examined blood samples of 448 dogs suspected of SFTS, infection was confirmed in 3.1% of 14 dogs.
Infection was not only in the metropolitan area, but also in Chungcheong and Yeongnam, and 9 out of 14 animals, or 64.3%, were found to have been bitten by a tick in a city park or a walking path in a residential area, not in the forest.
Infected dogs showed fever, anorexia, diarrhea and hematuria, all of which recovered following treatment.
The mortality rate does not appear to be as high as in humans, where the fatality rate is regarding 20%, but compared to cats, which are known to be over 60%.
However, it can be transmitted to other animals or humans through infected dogs.
[채준석/서울대 수의학과 교수]
“Since the virus escapes through bodily fluids, it is important that the virus can become a secondary infection through close contact with living animals, guardians, or medical staff.”
In Japan, 16 people, including pet owners and veterinarians, were secondarily infected from animals for 6 years from 2013, and two of them died.
In Korea, cases of secondary infection by dogs have been reported in Busan and Gyeonggi-do.
To prevent SFTS, spray a tick repellent before going for a walk, and if you find a tick attached to your dog’s body, it is safe to remove it from the hospital.
If a bite is confirmed, it should be monitored for symptoms for a full week.
This is Lim Kyung-ah from MBC News.
Video coverage: Lee Sang-yong / Video editing: actors / Video source: YouTube (KCDC, Don’t get sick TV)
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