Text/Xu Chenyuan's study
(All content in this article has official and reliable sources, and the specific information is detailed at the end of the article)
The latest virus in Japan has caused panic among students studying in Japan, foreign workers, and tourists who want to travel to Japan.
The latest virus, known as the "man-eating fungus", spreads so fast that the fatality rate reaches more than 30%, and there is currently no clear prevention and treatment plan.
So where did this virus come from, and what are the serious consequences?
What exactly is this "man-eating fungus" virus?
According to an article published by China.com News on March 27, 2024, as early as 2023, the virus has already sprouted in Japan.
The official outbreak of the virus will occur in the autumn and winter of the second half of 2023, and the scientific name of "man-eating bacteria" is "explosive hemolytic streptococcus type A".
In the first two months of 2024, 422 people in Japan were infected by the virus, and three out of 10 people infected with the virus died as a result, with a 30% chance of death.
Why is this virus called a "man-eating fungus" by the public, and what is so scary about it after infection?
"Man-eating bacteria" can be directly infected through wound breaks or unhealed breaks on the surface of human skin, and because people infected by this route may cause necrosis of human tissues, they are called "man-eating bacteria" by the public.
According to the explanation of Japanese experts, "hemolytic streptococcus type A" is also one of the many flesh-eating bacteria, and it is one of the complications caused by the evolution of another pathogen.
The virus is also transmitted through a variety of ways, which is why Japan was caught off guard, and at present, the general public in Japan can only avoid infection by maintaining good personal hygiene.
Wash your hands frequently, wash your feet frequently, change your clothes frequently, avoid going to crowded places as much as possible, wear a mask when you go out, and wear shoes that you don't wear all year round and shoes that don't fit well.
Because once a wound is exposed, it will increase the chance of being infected, especially many people will have athlete's foot, and the wound on the foot will not heal all year round, which is simply "heaven" for this virus.
If you are infected with this virus, you usually have a high fever of 39 degrees or higher, and you may have symptoms similar to that of a cold.
The infected person may not feel much at first, but the virus is also very cunning and exists for a long "incubation period", at first it is only pharyngeal and respiratory discomfort.
Symptoms such as persistent cough, runny nose, sore throat, watery eyes and redness, followed by severe body fever, the maximum temperature may last 40 degrees.
The biggest difference from other viruses is that even intact skin can develop pustules and rashes after infection, which can spread throughout the body within a few days.
Although the fatality rate of this virus is not too high at present, it is still necessary to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you have similar symptoms, and most hospitals in Japan can treat wounds infected by the "man-eating bacteria" virus.
People with underlying diseases need special precautions, such as those with chronic diseases, diabetes, uremia, and elderly patients with limited mobility or long-term bed rest, etc., these groups of people need to focus on protection.
The fatality rate is not high, which is aimed at people with healthy physique, and it is necessary to strengthen self-protection for this group of people who are weak and weak in resistance, otherwise it will lead to "death" if they provoke this virus.
So far, Japanese experts have not found out where the virus came from, and it is difficult for them to control the occurrence of the virus, and some experts speculate that the cause may have a lot to do with the evolution of the "new coronavirus" in the previous epidemic.
There may be more than one unknown virus in Japan
In addition to "man-eating bacteria", there may be many different susceptible viruses in Japan, which have existed for many years, so why repeat them now?
On March 22, 2024, China News Network published an article, and it can be seen that Thai media have issued important reminders at the Consulate General in Japan.
He said that there is a new outbreak of the virus in Japan, possibly measles, which has been rampant before and was completely eradicated in 2015.
Why is there a case of measles virus infection on the plane to Osaka, Japan on March 1, 2024, where did this person get infected, how many places did he go, and how many people were indirectly infected?
The Thai Embassy in Japan also reminded people who have been on the same ferry bus and other indirect contacts with the infected person to do a good job of self-monitoring, and if there is any discomfort, go to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible.
According to the local confirmed information in Osaka, Japan, the number of infected people in the local area has been increasing, and people in need can go to the hospital to receive vaccination and prevent it in advance.
In addition, there is another virus in Japan, scarlet fever (group A streptococcus), and the number of patients is increasing every day, and people of all ages have a high chance of contracting this virus.
On March 25, 2024, the second phase of the World Cup football tournament and the second phase of the matchup between Japan and North Korea were originally scheduled to be held in the capital of North Korea on the afternoon of March 26.
It was temporarily canceled due to the uncontrollable nature of the "group A hemolytic streptococcus" virus, which would cause unforeseen economic and property losses if it spread in various countries.
Research institutes in the United States have also studied this, but in the end, it is impossible to predict why the virus spreads so quickly and how mutated the virus this time.
Therefore, when the virus is prevalent in Japan, I still advise everyone not to travel to Japan for the time being, and if you must go, please do a good job of self-protection and understand the development of the local epidemic.
When traveling to areas where there may be a risk of man-eating bacterial infection, be aware of the local epidemic situation and take appropriate precautions.
Local Japanese restaurants like to eat raw meat, so please avoid eating raw food, such as salmon sashimi, raw meat, and sterile eggs, all of which should be cooked before eating.
Try to avoid contact with animals, soil, or water sources that may carry man-eating bacteria, and follow your doctor's advice for prevention and monitoring if there is a risk of infection, such as contact with an infected person or travel to an endemic area.
The most important thing is to exercise more, eat a healthy diet, ensure adequate sleep, improve your own immunity, and have a good body is the greatest capital to resist the arrival of the virus.
Resources
Reference news - the cancellation of the North Korea-Japan game, probably because of this germ
China News Network - The Thai Consulate in Japan issued an urgent reminder due to the spread of a variety of diseases in Japan
Jintai News - For the first time, human-to-human transmission of "tick disease" has been confirmed in Japan
China.com News -- The fatality rate exceeds 30%! Rare "man-eating fungus" has swept across Japan In the first two months of this year, there have been more than 400 cases
China.com News - The fatality rate exceeds 30%! Rare "man-eating bacteria" have swept across Japan, and more than 400 cases have appeared in the first two months of this year (3)