Evolution and the potential for human-to-human transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in low transmission settings in China.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), an emerging infectious disease with substantial mortality, was first reported in China in 2009 and subsequently became endemic to South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates. Despite growing concerns about its transmission dynamics, the potential for human-to-human transmission through close physical contact remains inadequately explored in the literature.

Methods

We conducted comprehensive epidemiological investigations of the initial cases of SFTS. In these investigations, real-time fluorescent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to analyze blood samples, followed by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for phylogenetic tree construction.

Results

Our analyses identifie

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12550308 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature