Japan is reporting a sharp rise in cases of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), a potentially fatal tick-borne disease, with infections surpassing last year's record pace, according to preliminary health data.
A total of 72 SFTS cases had been recorded by June 7, exceeding the 68 reported during the same period in 2025, a year that ended with a record 192 infections nationwide.
Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno warned that case numbers are continuing to increase and called for heightened vigilance across the country.
SFTS is primarily transmitted through tick bites but can also spread through contact with infected animals or human blood. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and impaired consciousness, with fatality rates estimated between 10% and 30%.
Japan confirmed its first SFTS case in 2013, and annual infections have exceeded 100 every year since 2022, with western regions of the country reporting the highest number of cases. Authorities are urging residents to take preventive measures as tick activity peaks from spring through autumn.
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