Original Article
Risk Assessment of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in Taiwan
Pei-Jung Chen1, Wan-Ting Huang1, Chia-Lin Li1, Ding-Ping Liu1, Pei-Yun Shu2, Hsi-Chieh Wang2, Jen-Hsiang Chuang3
2014 Vol.30 NO.9
Correspondence Author： Pei-Jung Chen
- 1.Epidemic Intelligence Center, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
- 2.Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
- 3.Deputy Minister Office, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
Abstract：
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is caused by a novel bunyavirus, SFTS virus (SFTSV). The major presentations are fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, proteinuria/hematuria, bleeding tendency, and multiple organ failure. SFTS was initially designated as human granulocytic anaplasmosis; in 2010, a tick species, Haemaphysalis longicornis, was found to carry the SFTSV and implicated as the major vector in China. Transmission of SFTSV between humans through direct contact with infected blood has been reported. SFTS is endemic in northeast and central China with most cases identified in Henan, Hubei, and Shandong, and has caused deaths in Japan and Korea in 2013. This report reviewed SFTS epidemiology in China, Japan, and Korea and summarized results from a risk assessment of SFTSV human infection in Taiwan. Overall there is a low public health risk related to SFTSV human infection in Taiwan. Based on the risk assessment, we provided recommendations for decision makers on the prevention and control of SFTSV infection.
