A cluster of cases of human-to-human transmission caused by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2012.11.006
• Publication Date: 2012-12-06T10:19:50Z
• Authors: Hongbin Chen; Ke Hu; Jinjing Zou; Jinxiu Xiao
• Keywords: Microbiology (medical); Male; China; 0303 health sciences; Orthobunyavirus; Fever; Syndrome; Middle Aged; Bunyaviridae Infections; Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome; Thrombocytopenia; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Infectious Diseases; Fatal Outcome; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Bunyavirus; Transmission; Humans; Female; Aged

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease in six epidemic provinces of China and was identified to be caused by a novel bunyavirus in 2009. It is progressive in nature and potentially fatal. SFTS usually occurs as sporadic cases and is considered a tick-transmitted disease. Here we present a group of three patients with proven SFTS and one with probable SFTS, for whom the epidemiological data show person-to-person transmission characteristics. The index patient and two secondary patients died. None reported a tick bite.