First death by SFTS virus from tick bite confirmed

Officials of a health center spray disinfectant at a lakeside park in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Tuesday. The center enforced its disinfection activities after the health ministry confirmed the first death from the sever fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus in Korea. / Yonhap

By Kang Hyun-kyung

The government reported the first case of a confirmed death of a patient infected with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a tick-borne virus.

The Korea Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (KCDPC) said that a 63-year-old woman, who died last August after suffering fever and diarrhea, was infected with the SFTS virus.

The elderly patient died 10 days after she was hospitalized after being bitten by a tick while working in a field in Gangwon Province for 15 days last July. The health authorities failed to confirm the cause of death at that time.

The center said its inspectors collected clinical samples from the dead woman kept at Seoul National University Hospital and found that she was infected with the virus.

The nation’s first confirmed SFTS death was reported days after five people were hospitalized with symptoms similar to those caused by the virus.

Of these, a 73-year-old farmer surnamed Kang, died last week on Jeju Island after being admitted to hospital with symptoms of severe fever, diarrhea and vomiting following a tick bite.

The KDCPS said the SFTS virus was the apparent cause of Kang’s death.

The center has investigated three other reported cases to find out whether they are also infected with the virus.

As there are no vaccines or medicine that can treat SFTS, the heath authorities are encouraging citizens to wear long sleeved shirts when they do outdoor activities.