Flesh-Eating Bacteria That Can Kill in Two Days Spreads in Japan (msn.com) 43
Bloomberg reports:
A disease caused by a rare "flesh-eating bacteria" that can kill people within 48 hours is spreading in Japan after the country relaxed Covid-era restrictions. Cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) reached 977 this year by June 2, higher than the record 941 cases reported for all of last year, according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, which has been tracking incidences of the disease since 1999.
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) typically causes swelling and sore throat in children known as "strep throat," but some types of the bacteria can lead to symptoms developing rapidly, including limb pain and swelling, fever, low blood pressure, that can be followed by necrosis, breathing problems, organ failure and death. People over 50 are more prone to the disease. "Most of the deaths happen within 48 hours," said Ken Kikuchi, a professor in infectious diseases at Tokyo Women's Medical University. "As soon as a patient notices swelling in foot in the morning, it can expand to the knee by noon, and they can die within 48 hours...."
At the current rate of infections, the number of cases in Japan could reach 2,500 this year, with a "terrifying" mortality rate of 30%, Kikuchi said.
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) typically causes swelling and sore throat in children known as "strep throat," but some types of the bacteria can lead to symptoms developing rapidly, including limb pain and swelling, fever, low blood pressure, that can be followed by necrosis, breathing problems, organ failure and death. People over 50 are more prone to the disease. "Most of the deaths happen within 48 hours," said Ken Kikuchi, a professor in infectious diseases at Tokyo Women's Medical University. "As soon as a patient notices swelling in foot in the morning, it can expand to the knee by noon, and they can die within 48 hours...."
At the current rate of infections, the number of cases in Japan could reach 2,500 this year, with a "terrifying" mortality rate of 30%, Kikuchi said.
Re:And the solution? (Score:4, Funny)
No, clearly the solution is to live under lock down protocols indefinitely.
Well, ok, not full lock down protocols, as we can't function as a society indefinitely like that. But we need to normalize working from home as much as possible in whatever industries it makes sense. The less face-to-face contact we have with each other, the fewer opportunities these diseases have to spread.
This is clearly the right thing to do for many other reasons as well (pollution being a major one). Extroverts don't like it but they can adapt by engaging in more voluntary social gatherings during their free time. This will naturally reduce their numbers due to higher disease exposure, producing within a few generations a crop of humans that are well-adapted to a safer, more (but not completely) solitary life.
Ok, problem solved. NEXT!
Re: (Score:2)
Re: Kill all the kids who have trouble swallowing? (Score:2)
^^Father Geoghan speaking from the grave.
At last! (Score:1, Troll)
A real plague I can get behind. But not in Japan. Might I suggest Texas or Florida instead? Both have large populations over the age of 50.
Re: At last! (Score:2)
Please no. Remember those places have nothing to stop it from spreading beyond those states
Re: (Score:2)
Ummmm....hmmmmm... wow?
Re: (Score:1)
Do you want to retire one day? Or are you plans to kill yourself when you reach 50?
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:1)
I'm no fan of Florida or Texas, but stooping to the level you did is reprehensible. If something like this can push you into thinking like a barbarian, what is wrong with you?
Re: At last! (Score:3)
Just about everyone can be pushed to barbarism, and most would justify their descent as moral and honorable, if only to sleep at night.
That's the one lesson of history.
And it's why a healthy members of a healthy society always have to have every brain cell blazing to refrain from indulging their baser instincts and reverting to the Hobbesian state.
If you think you're above that, you're almost certainly lying to yourself. See above about being able to sleep at night.
Re:At last! (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm no fan of Florida or Texas, but stooping to the level you did is reprehensible. If something like this can push you into thinking like a barbarian, what is wrong with you?
If the heads of both states, with the goose-stepping support of their respective legislatures have no problem with women [dallasnews.com] and children [arstechnica.com] dying [wlrn.org], eliminate safety protections [texastribune.org] for workers [wusf.org], have told their people not to take basic health precautions [nbcnews.com] during a previous pandemic AND have barred local communities [cbsnews.com] from enacting ordinances to protect people [theguardian.com], and have openly stated people should be allowed to kill illegals [nbcnews.com], I see no reason not to get rid people like that. Or do you think everything I just mentioned is not barbaric?
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
Yet their actions say otherwise.
Re: (Score:3)
And for the record, even wishing death on the former group isn't a good look. This is how fascists think. The basic premise of democracy is rule by the people, for better or for worse, even if tho
you know how these things are (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
so it's from a chinese lab is what you're saying
Hahaha ... (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
I think he's talking about ambient temperature, not body temperature.
Re: Hahaha ... (Score:1)
No, they aren't. Not even remotely.
Hospitals and long-term care homes? (Score:2)
I've seen this in person (Score:5, Informative)
Two IVs plus a twin-lead PIC with five infusion pumps running multiple antibiotics plus IV immunoglobulin and, later, a big bag of lipids. Multiple organ failure, including kidneys meant her electrolytes were way off, and that triggered a latent conduction path problem in her heart. A couple episodes of tachycardia were addressed using a drug that (briefly) stopped her heart completely each time. That was unpleasant.
It took several days for them to even diagnose what it was. But, one day, a young doctor we'd never met before burst into the room and, without introducing herself, said "I know what you have!" After that, doctors from all over the area (a large metropolitan area with over 8 million residents at that time) to examine her just to see what a patient with this extremely rare condition looks like. It was touch-and-go for about a week during her 10 days in the ICU. Recovery took about a year, and left some permanent damage to her gallbladder.
0/10 - would not recommend.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Honest question: Are you a doctor, or did you pay really close attention and learn the details really well? Either way, that was an impressive description.
Re: I've seen this in person (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Egomanical (Score:2, Interesting)
Re: Egomanical (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
At least for air travel we win on pricing. It might not seem like it because of all the extra fees but ticket prices themselves are super cheap compared to what past generations spent https://www.usinflationcalcula... [usinflatio...ulator.com] .
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I never said modern air travel was as comfy, I'm only pointing out that you were not correct about travel being more expensive at least in the context of air travel and one will find that to be pretty much universally true for all countries.
Re: (Score:2)
This bacteria typically effects 3 in every 100k. (Score:1)
Closer to 0.5 per 100k (Score:2)
average Japan reaction (Score:1)