Tokyo, Japan: Following the Coronavirus pandemic, a rare ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria with a 30 percent mortality rate has alarmed health authorities in Japan. The severe outbreak of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), driven by a virulent “flesh-eating” bacteria, has surged across Tokyo, with 145 cases reported in the first half of 2024. According to the Asahi Shimbun, one of the five largest newspapers in Japan, this aggressive disease primarily affects adults over the age of 30 and has a mortality rate of around 30%, with deaths occurring within a shockingly brief 48-hour window post-infection.
“Most deaths occur within 48 hours,” stated Ken Kikuchi, a professor of infectious diseases at Tokyo Women’s Medical University. “If a patient notices swelling in their foot in the morning, it can spread to the knee by noon, and they could die within 48 hours.”
Kikuchi warned that if the current rate of infections continues, Japan could see up to 2,500 cases this year, accompanied by a “terrifying” 30% mortality rate. Moreover, she urged the public to practice good hand hygiene and treat any open wounds, warning that individuals might carry GAS in their intestines, which can contaminate hands through feces.
Nationwide, Japan has reported 977 confirmed cases of STSS as of June 2, surpassing last year’s total of 941 cases, according to the National Infectious Disease Institute. The outbreak is linked to Group A Streptococcus (GAS), a bacterium usually associated with common conditions like strep throat in children.
However, certain strains of GAS in this outbreak are causing severe symptoms, including intense limb pain, swelling, high fever, low blood pressure, and in extreme cases, tissue necrosis, respiratory distress, multi-organ failure, and death. The elderly, particularly those over 50, are at a higher risk for these severe outcomes.
Health authorities are rapidly mobilizing to contain and manage the disease’s spread, while also ramping up public awareness campaigns to educate people on early symptoms and preventive measures.
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