In Japan, there is a rapid increase in patients infected with fulminant hemolytic streptococcus, a disease with a fatality rate of up to 70%. The momentum of this disease, also known as the “flesh-eating bacteria,” has become alarming, leading to a state of emergency in Japan.
According to TBS News in Japan on the 19th, the number of patients infected with fulminant hemolytic streptococcus has already exceeded 50% of last year’s patient count in less than three months this year, setting a new record. “Fulminant” means acute, and “Hemolytic” refers to the rupture of red blood cells, releasing hemoglobin outside the cells. Streptococcus means bacteria or germs that are round and lined up in a row.
This infectious disease is caused by a bacterium called “Group A Fulminant Streptococcus” and is also known as “Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome” (STSS). Initial symptoms include fever, but the disease can rapidly progress to multiple organ failure and necrosis and can be fatal, with a mortality rate known to be between 30% and 70%.
According to the Japanese health authorities, the number of confirmed cases reported nationwide last year was 941, the highest since records began in 1999. From the beginning of this year, the number of patients has increased even more, reaching 474 by the 10th of this month.
While this disease is generally more dangerous for the elderly, a slight mutation in Japan resulted in the death of about one-third of the 65 people under 50 who were diagnosed with STSS between July and December 2023, according to the Asahi Shimbun.
According to the British media, The Guardian, some experts believe the surge in this disease is related to lifting pandemic measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. As COVID-19 regulations were lifted, the cases of the disease, which also spread through droplets and physical contact, increased.
In addition, some experts speculate that more than 50% of Japanese people were infected with COVID-19, and the immunological status of those who recovered may have made them more susceptible to certain microbial infections