Cases of a dangerous and highly deadly bacterial infection have reached record levels in Japan. According to official figures, experts have not yet been able to determine the cause of this increase. Until June 2nd, the Japanese Ministry of Health recorded 977 cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, with a mortality rate of up to 30%. Between January and March, 77 people died from this infection, according to the latest data available.
Record number of deadly bacterial infections in Japan
The ongoing outbreak has already surpassed last year’s previous record of 941 preliminary infections, the highest number recorded since 1999.National Institute of Infectious Diseases of Japan reported 97 STSS deaths last year, the second-highest number in the past six years.
In March, Japanese authorities warned of a rise in STSS cases, especially among those under 50. Experts believe that people’s weakened immune systems after COVID-19 may be one of the causes of the sharp increase in cases. The professor Ken Kikuchi from Tokyo Women’s Medical University, CNN reports, explained that the immune system strengthens with constant exposure to bacteria, a mechanism absent during the pandemic. This could explain the increase in people susceptible to infections.
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