As Japan sees a surge of international tourists during the summer holiday season, health officials are dealing with an outbreak of infections caused by what’s commonly known as “flesh-eating bacteria.” On the program “Health 1+1,” Xiaoxu Sean Lin, an American virology expert and microbiologist, discussed the symptoms, characteristics, and prevention methods for these types of infections.
The “flesh-eating bacteria” recently reported in the news actually refers to group A streptococcus, Lin said. In severe cases, this infection releases enzymes that dissolve muscle and connective tissues, hence its name. These severe cases can lead to conditions including streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), which has a mortality rate of up to 30 percent.
