transmission
Last edited 04/2021 and last reviewed 04/2021
Severe fever with thrombocytopaenia syndrome (SFTS) - Transmission
- Human infections usually occur as the result of being bitten by a tick carrying
SFTSV - several types of tick can be infected with
SFTSV , but the Asian long-horned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, is most frequently identified with carriage ofSFTSV and transmission of infection to humans- Haemaphysalis longicornis is found in several Asian countries
- also found Australia, New Zealand, islands in the Western Pacific region, and the USA. However, to date, there are no reports of
SFTSV having been detected in ticks in these countries
- also found Australia, New Zealand, islands in the Western Pacific region, and the USA. However, to date, there are no reports of
- Haemaphysalis longicornis is found in several Asian countries
- several types of tick can be infected with
- sheep, goats and other mammals may serve as intermediate hosts
- many different animals may be infected naturally, including rodents, small mammals and yaks
- humans are accidental hosts when bitten by ticks (1)
- human-to-human transmission
SFTSV - precise modes of human-to-human transmission
SFTSV transmission are unclear - appears to require close contact with an infected individual, their blood or other bodily fluids, or their immediate environment
- precise modes of human-to-human transmission
- nosocomial transmission
- reported to have occurred in emergency departments and intensive care units in China and South Korea
- transmission via percutaneous exposure (for example, needle-stick injury) has also been reported.
The possibility of transmission via aerosol-generating procedures, without the use of sufficient respiratory protective equipment, was proposed in an epidemiological study of one small cluster.
Reference:
- Public Health England (April 2021). Severe fever with thrombocytopaenia syndrome (SFTSV): epidemiology, outbreaks and guidance