title: Family Cluster Analysis of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Infection in Korea.
abstract: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is tick-borne viral disease that was first suspected in China in 2009. The causative virus (SFTSV) was isolated in 2009 and reported in 2011, and SFTSV expanded its geographic distribution in 2012-2013, from China to South Korea and Japan. Most SFTSV infections occur through Haemaphysalis longicornis However, SFTSV infection can also occur between family members, and nosocomial transmission of SFTSV is also possible through close contact with a patient. In this study, we first analyzed clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data for SFTS patients and family members of an index patient in Korea. The S segment of SFTSV was amplified from the sera of three patients, and the S segment of SFTSV and IgG specific to SFTSV were detected in the serum from one family member; although this individual had no history of exposure to H. longicornis, she frequently had close contact with the index patient. In Korea, SFTSV infection among family members does not have to be reported, and we suggest that person-to-person transmission of SFTSV among family members is possible in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Rae
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Taek
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dahee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyemin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Special Pathogens Laboratory, Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan.
authors.forename: Aiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fukuma
authors.affiliation: Special Pathogens Laboratory, Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuetsu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukushi
authors.affiliation: Special Pathogens Laboratory, Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimojima
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Keun Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005190:Family; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008297:Male; D016856:Phlebovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G