Cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), a disease caused by a rare “flesh-eating bacteria” that can kill people within 48 hours, is spreading in Japan, a report by Bloomberg said. The nation recorded 977 cases this year, as per data recorded by the nation’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases. The government agency which tracks diseases and its spread in Japan said this year’s cases are higher than the record 941 cases reported for all of last year.
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) usually causes swelling and sore throat in children, known as “strep throat”. However, there are some types of the bacteria that can lead to rapid symptoms like limb pain and swelling, fever, low blood pressure, followed by necrosis, breathing problems, organ failure and death. People over 50 are more prone to the disease.
“Most of the deaths happen within 48 hours. 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 Ken Kikuchi, a professor in infectious diseases at Tokyo Women’s Medical University, was quoted as saying by news outlet Bloomberg.