Virus spread by ticks kills 5, sends 23 to hospital in East China's Anhui Province
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Pub Date:2020-07-13 09:16 Source:Global Times |
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The local health commission of Lu'an, East China's Anhui Province
confirmed on Friday night that a newly emerging tick-borne infectious
disease known as Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) has
caused five deaths and hospitalized 23 people in Jinzhai county of the
city since April, dismissing a rumor that the deaths were caused by
dengue. SFTS caused by tick bites is a new epidemic disease of
natural origin that has appeared in some parts of China in recent years.
The disease induces symptoms such as severe fever, thrombocytopenia,
nausea, and vomiting, similar with the symptoms of dengue. Ticks
are known to carry 83 viruses. The local authorities confirmed the SFTS
caused by tick bites was not dengue fever, which is also spread by the
insects. Previously, a rumor speculated on the internet saying the death
cases in Jinzhai county were the result from dengue.
A disease
control staffer from the Lu'an health commission said Lu'an is a
mountainous region and villagers working in the fields are often bitten
by ticks and leeches. People susceptible to insect bites are more likely
to be stricken by insect-borne diseases.
The disease is caused
by a novel bunya virus, which is spread by ticks. Patients infected of
the novel bunya virus can spread the virus to others. Besides, cadavers
blood and bloody secretions of the patients are infectious.
The local authorities reminded local people that tick bites also spread encephalitis and haemorrhagic fever.
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