<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/15/japan-streptococcal-infections-rise-details>
"Experts warn that a rare but dangerous bacterial infection is spreading at a
record rate in Japan, with officials struggling to identify the cause.
The number of cases in 2024 is expected to exceed last year’s record numbers,
while concern is growing that the harshest and potentially deadly form of group
A streptococcal disease – streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) – will
continue to spread, after the presence of highly virulent and infectious
strains were confirmed in Japan.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) said: “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.”
Provisional figures released by the NIID recorded 941 cases of STSS were
reported last year. In the first two months of 2024, 378 cases have already
been recorded, with infections identified in all but two of Japan’s 47
prefectures.
While older people are considered at greater risk, the group A strain is
leading to more deaths among patients under 50, according to NIID. Of the 65
people under 50 who were diagnosed with STSS between July and December in 2023,
about a third, or 21, died, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported."
Via Violet Blue’s
Pandemic Roundup: March 21, 2024
https://www.patreon.com/posts/pandemic-roundup-100819438
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
