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Regional disease overviewEast Asia

What is severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome?

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome is an emerging tick-borne viral disease reported mainly in East Asia that can cause fever, gastrointestinal symptoms and low platelet and white-cell counts.

Reviewed by VuxLore® Knowledge Team For Residents and travellers

Short answer

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome is an emerging tick-borne viral disease reported mainly in East Asia that can cause fever, gastrointestinal symptoms and low platelet and white-cell counts.

At a glance

It can be severe, and close contact with an infected person's blood or body fluids has also been implicated in transmission.

Key takeaways

• Risk is geographically specific.

• Severe illness needs urgent hospital care.

• Use official local infection-control advice.

An illness requiring specialist care

SFTS virus is associated with ticks including Haemaphysalis longicornis. The clinical picture is not specific enough for self-diagnosis.

Share travel and exposure details

Tell clinicians about recent rural activity, tick bites, animal contact and contact with an ill person's fluids. Public-health procedures vary by country.

Sources and further reading