Excerpt
- Global media reports have highlighted a spike in the number of cases of the rare but frequently deadly streptococcal toxic shock syndrome
- The health ministry says travellers need not worry. But it remains unclear how widespread the illness is, or why it seems to be spreading so quickly
Health authorities in Japan are attempting to play down reports in foreign media of a sharp uptick in the number of "flesh eating" streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome (STSS) cases, although a leading doctor of infectious diseases has admitted that it was unclear how widespread the illness is or why it seems to be spreading so swiftly.
Global media coverage of the outbreak has highlighted a spike in the number of cases of the rare but frequently deadly bacterial infection, highlighting an apparent fatality rate of 30 per cent.
A health ministry official stressed that travellers concerned about contracting STSS need not cancel their plans to visit Japan, telling the Asahi newspaper that the frequent washing of hands, use of a face mask and keeping any open wounds clean should be sufficient to prevent infection.
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