In Japan, cases of streptococcal infection are increasing. Health authorities are working to identify the cause of these potentially fatal infections.
- More and more cases of streptococcal infections are being recorded in Japan.
- Caused by bacteria, it can cause mild symptoms, such as sore throat, or much more serious ones: 30% of cases are fatal.
- The lifting of restrictions linked to Covid-19 may have caused this increase in cases.
A bacteria is spreading in Japan. Streptococcus A causes numerous infections in the country. According to health authorities, the year 2023 had set a record, which should be exceeded in 2024. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), the Japanese organization responsible in particular for health statistics, recorded 941 cases of the syndrome. of streptococcal toxic shock in 2023. 378 cases have already been recorded between January and February 2024.
Strep infection: what is it?
The term streptococcal toxic shock syndrome refers to the severe form of the infection, the mortality rate of which is approximately 30%. In many cases, the infection causes cold-like symptoms, but sometimes it can lead to strep throat, tonsillitis, pneumonia and meningitis. Health authorities are unable to understand why these forms are increasing in the country. “There are still many unknown factors regarding the mechanisms behind fulminant (severe and sudden) forms of strep, and we are not at the stage where we can explain them.”warns the NIID in Tea Guardian.
Can the lifting of restrictions linked to Covid-19 explain the increase in cases?
But a path is emerging. For several scientists, the lifting of restrictions linked to Covid-19 may have contributed to this increase in cases. In Tea GuardianKen Kikuchi, professor of infectious diseases at the Tokyo Medical University, confides being “very concerned” by this increase and believes that the reclassification of Covid-19 was the most important factor contributing to this increase. In May 2023, the Japanese government downgraded the disease to level 5 of the national classification, the same stage as the seasonal flu.”This has led more people to abandon basic measures to prevent infections, such as regular hand sanitizing.”he believes.
Should we fear a similar situation in France?
Japan is not the only country seeing an increase in cases of streptococcal infections. According to’Pastor Institutethere is a “real increase in invasive streptococcal A infections in industrialized countries and particularly in Europe”. In France, the Institute estimates that this increase started in the 2000s. Since then, the incidence rate has increased from 1.2 to 3.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. However, scientists seem reassuring. In an article published in Tea Conversation, John McCormick and Juan Manuel Diaz, two Canadian researchers, recall that these serious infections are rare. They recommend maintaining simple hygiene measures: hand washing, covering yourself when coughing, staying at home in case of illness. If in doubt about a potential streptococcal infection, you should consult your doctor, who can check using a rapid screening test.
