A rare, deadly, flesh-eating bacteria is on the rise in Japan , with hundreds of people infected. Over 1,000 cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) were reported in Japan in the first six months of 2024, surpassing the total number recorded last year in the country. The disease is predominantly caused by a bacterium named Streptococcus pyogenes, commonly known as group A streptococcus .
STSS can be fatal in some cases, with 77 deaths from the illness recorded by Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases in March. The institute has warned that the disease can kill you in a matter of days. But despite a record number of cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) this year, the cause for the increase remains unknown.
What is STSS? Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is a severe illness caused when Group A Streptococcus bacteria spreads into the blood and deep tissues, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Open wounds or sores, diabetes and alcohol usage are all factors that can increase the risk of contracting STSS. The disease is most common in over 65s.
Symptoms of STSS include fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, according to the CDC. The disease can be more serious when it occurs with necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating form of Group A Strep bacteria that STSS is “highly associated with”, and destroys muscles, skin and the underlying tissues, according to Penn Medicine. Andrew Steer, director of .
