Japanese vet dies from tick-borne disease after treating infected cat

An official of the Japan Veterinary Medical Association (JVMA) has confirmed that a vet in the Mie prefecture developed symptoms of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) after treating two infected cats at his clinic.

The vet died a few days later.

What Happened

Two cats, both showing symptoms of SFTS, were hospitalised at the vet's practice in late April.

On May 6, the vet experienced lethargy and a loss of appetite, and was hospitalised after having breathing difficulties on May 8. Upon testing, it was confirmed that he had contracted SFTS.

He died on May 12.

SFTS is spread primarily through bites of infected ticks, though it can reportedly also be spread via the "blood, saliva, vomit and excreta of infected animals".

No tick bite marks were reportedly found on the vet.

Neither the cats' owners nor the other staff at the clinic have displayed symptoms. The cats have also since recovered, and are showing no further symptoms.

According to SCMP, Daisuke Tsukamoto, a spokesman for the JVMA, has stated that it is still unclear as to how the vet got infected, and that "the ministry of health is working with the prefectural authorities to determine all the details".

Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) has issued a 17-page report for veterinarians which outlined key signs of infection in animals, recommended precautions to avoid being bitten by a tick, as well as the dangers of exposure to fluids from an infected animal.

SFTS typically has an incubation period of six to 14 days, and clinical symptoms include fever, loss of energy and appetite, vomiting and a tick bite.

The disease has a mortality rate ranging from 12 to 30 per cent in humans, and over 50 per cent in cats.

According to the Asahi Shimbun, Since 2013, when the disease was first reported in humans, a total of 1,071 cases of SFTS have been confirmed in Japan, with 117 deaths.

Top photo via Canva