Fukuoka Prefecture reported its first case this year of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), a potentially fatal tick-borne illness. The infection was confirmed between May 19 and 25. SFTS symptoms include fever, nausea, and abdominal pain, with a fatality rate of 10–30%. Authorities urge residents to wear long sleeves and pants when entering grassy or wooded areas. Separately, cases of erythema infectiosum (“fifth disease”) remain at a warning level, averaging 2.60 cases per clinic. Pregnant women are advised to avoid contact with symptomatic individuals due to potential risks to the fetus. Pertussis (whooping cough) cases rose for the third consecutive week, reaching 120 in the latest report. Basic infection control measures such as handwashing and mask-wearing are being encouraged. Source: NHK
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