Japanese researchers have identified a new Jezo virus. It is transmitted through tick bites.
From 2014 to 2020, infected people were admitted to local hospitals with an unusual infection and their symptoms recurred. They had fever, a decrease in leukocytes and platelets in the blood.
A total of seven cases of infection have been officially registered.
“The Jezo virus is widespread in Hokkaido and causes illness when it is transmitted to people from animals through ticks,” the publication quotes doctors.
Scientists, thanks to genetic analysis, have come to the conclusion that the fever is caused by a previously unknown pathogen.
Treatment of the fever reportedly took about two weeks. There were no deaths recorded.
In the near future, scientists plan to track the likely spread of Yezo among wild animals and people in Japan.
