Korean J healthc assoc Infect Control Prev.  2022 Jun;27(1):18-27. 10.14192/kjicp.2022.27.1.18.

Current Status and Infection Control of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in Korea

• Oh H
• Yoo JR
• Kim M
• Heo ST

• KMID: 2530822
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14192/kjicp.2022.27.1.18

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne infectious disease caused by a novel Dabie bandavirus belonging to the genus Bandavirus. The incidence of SFTS has been increasing in East Asia, posing a great concern to public health in endemic areas. Although SFTS has a high case-fatality rate, there is currently no effective treatment for SFTS. Therefore, early diagnosis and prevention of SFTS are essential. Primarily, SFTS is a tick-borne zoonosis, but human-to-human transmission can also occur in healthcare workers or family members by exposure to patients’ blood or body fluids. We review the current epidemiological characteristics of SFTS in Korea and the key infection control measures in hospitals and household settings.

Keyword

Epidemiology; Infection control; Korea; Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome; Bandavirus

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Annual number of cases and case fatality of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Korea from 2013 to 2021.

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  Fig. 2 Cumulative number and case fatality of patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome according to the age groups in Korea from 2013 to 2020.

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  Fig. 3 Average annual incidence of indigenous severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome cases in Korea from 2013 to 2021 (per 100,000 population).

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  Fig. 4 Monthly incidence of patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Korea from 2013 to 2021.

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