title: A cluster of cases of human-to-human transmission caused by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhangzhidong Road, Wuchang, Wuhan 430060, China.
authors.forename: Hongbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jinjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Jinxiu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016851:Orthobunyavirus; D013577:Syndrome; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*