Deadly flesh-eating infection spreading at record levels in Japan, puzzling health officials
Deadly Flesh-Eating Bacterial Infection Spreads Across Japan
In a concerning turn of events, Japanese officials have sounded the alarm over a rare and lethal bacterial infection that is rapidly spreading throughout the country, claiming lives at an unprecedented rate.
The Japan Times reports a staggering surge in cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), a condition primarily caused by the bacteria group A streptococcus, with a chilling fatality rate of 30%.
Medical experts find themselves grappling with the inexplicable escalation in cases, urging the public to take stringent measures to stem the contagion. Individuals are advised to diligently cleanse wounds and maintain thorough hand hygiene to curtail the infections spread.
Japans National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), quoted by The Guardian, admits to the perplexity surrounding the sudden surge, stating, "There are still many unknown factors regarding the mechanisms behind fulminant (severe and sudden) forms of streptococcus, and we are not at the stage where we can explain them."
Official records from the NIID paint a grim picture, with 941 confirmed cases of STSS in 2023 alone. Shockingly, within the first two months of 2024, an additional 378 cases have been documented, infiltrating patients across all but two of Japans 47 prefectures.
This surge marks a stark departure from historical averages, with only 100-200 cases reported annually since the identification of STSS in 1992. However, the numbers catapulted to an all-time high of 894 cases in 2019, foreshadowing the current crisis.