A highly pathogenic new bunyavirus emerged in China

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease that was discovered in China in 2010. The causative agent has been identified as a new member of the Phlebovirus genus in the family Bunyaviridae and has been designated severe fever with thrombocytopenia virus (SFTSV). SFTSV infection can be transmitted person-to-person, and the average case fatality rate is approximately 10% in humans. There is a high seroprevalence of SFTSV infection in a wide range of domesticated animals, including sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, dogs and chickens. Ticks are suspected to be the vector that transmits the virus to humans. Currently, the SFTS endemic area is expanding. Therefore, SFTSV infection is an increasingly important public health threat.