It’s hot, but isn’t it corona? ‘Another ambush’ led by ticks and mice

The season has come to worry not only about the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19), but also about various infectious diseases caused by ticks and mice. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 18th in the fall, four types of febrile infectious diseases should be observed, including Tsutsugamushi disease, severe febrile thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), leptospirosis, and nephrotic syndrome hemorrhagic fever.

Tsutsugamushi disease and SFTS are transmitted by ticks. Tsutsugamushi disease is caused by bites of hairy mite larvae infected with fungi, and SFTS is caused by bites of true virus-infected mites. There is a high risk of exposure during outings, visiting a grave, or during flood recovery or collection.

Hairy mite that transmits Tsutsugamushi disease. Data center for disease control and prevention

Tsutsugamushi disease occurred in 9 out of 10 patients intensively after the fall. According to the Agency for Disease Control and Prevention, 55768, 92.5% of the 61,314 patients with Tsutsugamushi disease came out from September to December in the last 7 years (2013-2019). In August alone, it was 698, then doubled in September (1,419) and then increased to 18,944 in October and 32,355 in November. In December, it fell back to 3,050.

The cumulative death toll for 7 years also increased from 1 in September to 21 in October, 51 in November and 11 in December. 90.3% of the 93 accumulated deaths were concentrated between September and December (84). The disease administration said: “This year, a vector hairy mite larvae was identified for the first time in the Gangwon area three weeks earlier than the previous year, so attention is needed.” Already this year, from January to 15 this month, 465 people were infected and two of them died.

The SFTS is produced consistently from April to November, but more than half is concentrated in the fall and winter months. According to the Agency for Disease Control and Prevention, 484 of the 944 patients accumulated over 7 years (2013-2019) left from September to December (51.2%). SFTS has a particularly high mortality rate of 20%. 153 people were needed from January this year to 15 this month, of which 20 died.

Both Tsutsugamushi disease and SFTS develop symptoms such as a high fever, vomiting, and chills after the incubation period.

Small tick. Lives in Korea, China, and Japan. [일본 국립감염증연구소 곤충의과학부 제공 = 연합뉴스 자료사진]

Leptospirosis and nephrotic syndrome hemorrhagic fever, which are transmitted through rodents such as rats, are also infectious diseases that are noticed after fall. Leptospirosis becomes infected when the body comes into contact with water, such as the urine of mice infected with the fungus. Nephrotic syndrome hemorrhagic fever is transmitted through a person’s respiratory tract when viruses excreted from infected rodents through feces, urine, and saliva float through the air. In particular, there is the risk of exposure during flood recovery or field work.

When observing the accumulated pattern of patients over 7 years (2013-2019), both leptospirosis and hemorrhagic fever with nephrotic syndrome occurred in 68% (467 of 688) and 63% (1996 of 3191), respectively, in September to December.

If you experience fever, muscle pain, headache, conjunctival congestion, or digestive symptoms after outdoor activities, you should visit a medical institution immediately to report your activity and receive treatment.

How do you prevent ticks and rats from spreading disease?
It is good to wear long sleeves when you are outdoors. Undressing or lying on the grass should be avoided. You should also refrain from contacting wild animals and hiking off-trail mountain trails. When you get home, it is good to take a bath after taking care of your clothes for ticks. Accumulated water is suspected of bacterial contamination and swimming or skin contact should be avoided. Work clothes and boots should be worn when working in a location where bacterial contamination is suspected. High-risk groups, such as soldiers and farmers who engage in outdoor activities, should be vaccinated against hemorrhagic fever with nephrotic syndrome.

In particular, this year, authorities called for refraining from outdoor activities in the fall to prevent infection with Corona 19, which has similar symptoms. Joon-wook Kwon, deputy director of the Central Defense Countermeasures Headquarters, said in a briefing on the 18th: “Of the initial symptoms, fever is a common symptom in Corona.”

Reporter Hwang Soo-yeon [email protected]