• Source:JND
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Flesh-Eating Bacteria:  Japan has been grappling with the emergence of a new, highly infectious bacterial disease caused by a rare "flesh-eating bacteria" which can deliver a painful death to the patient within 48 hours. This fatal bacterial infection, known as streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) has struck nearly 1,000 people in Japan until now this year, way higher than the 941 cases reported last year by the country's National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

Usually, the Group A Streptococcus (GAS) bacteria target the children, causing severe swelling and sore throat, typically known as strep throat. However, some types of Streptococcus bacteria can lead to the rapid development of severe symptoms from a mere strep throat. These include full body aches, fever, and low blood pressure, followed by fatal conditions such as necrosis (the death of body tissue), breathlessness and organ failure - leading to the eventual death of the patients.

"As soon as a patient notices swelling in the foot in the morning, it can expand to the knee by noon, and they can die within 48 hours," said an infectious diseases professor, Ken Kikuchi, who teaches at the Tokyo Women's Medical University. It has a severely high mortality rate of 30 per cent, the professor added.

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Following Japan's struggle with 'flesh-eating bacteria', China-administered Hong Kong has asked its citizens travelling to Japan to follow strict personal hygiene routines and to watch out for any fresh, open wound for infection.

Doctors have advised maintaining a high level of personal hygiene for the people travelling across the borders and taking any sudden fever or limb pain very seriously. Open wounds and cuts, even minor ones, should be properly cleaned and treated, Financial Times reported citing doctors. The medical practitioners have also been advised to maintain pandemic SOPs such as washing hands regularly, maintaining social distancing and cleaning any open wound or cut, the report further stated.

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More disease outbreaks of invasive streptococcal toxic shock syndrome have been reported from at least 5 different European countries by the end of 2022. World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the number of cases rose following the ease of Covid 19 travel restrictions.