Japan Reports Records Spike in Flesh-Eating Bacterial Infection

Author: Dian Kencana
June 19, 2024

As at June 9, the preliminary number of cases in the country since the beginning of this year reached 1,019. (AFP)

SEAToday.com, Tokyo - Japan is currently dealing with a rise in Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) caused by a rare “flesh-eating” bacteria.

Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) reported on Tuesday (6/18) over 1,000 STSS cases have been recorded in 2024, already surpassing last year's record of 941 – the highest since the agency began tracking cases in 1999. Last year also marked the second-highest reported death caused by STSS in the last six years at 97 deaths.

STSS is a rare but potentially deadly bacterial infection that can progress rapidly. While initial symptoms include fever, muscle aches,diarrhea, and nausea, it can quickly turn fatal if left untreated, leading to low blood pressure and even organ failure.

Infectious Diseases Professor Ken Kikuchi at Tokyo Women's Medical University emphasizes the urgency, highlighting that most deaths occur within 48 hours of initial symptoms. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) further underscores the severity, stating that even with treatment, STSS can be fatal in up to 30 percent of cases.