A severe bacterial infection, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), is spreading in Japan, with the country’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases raising alarms in March. The Ministry of Health has reported a sharp increase in STSS cases, totaling 977 as of June 2, nearly two and a half times more than those reported in the US this year. Last year, Japan had 941 cases.
STSS is a rare but life-threatening disease caused by toxins from Streptococcus pyogenes, or Group A Streptococcus (GAS). This bacterium typically leads to sore throats and skin infections. Symptoms of STSS include fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and low blood pressure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the infection is fatal for 3 out of 10 affected individuals.
Since late 2022, GAS rates have been rising in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden, causing concern among health officials about the spread and impact of this dangerous infection.