As of June 30, Japan has reported 1,144 cases of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS), also known as “flesh-eating bacteria” infections, this year. The condition has resulted in the deaths of five pregnant or postpartum women between last July and this March, according to the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. STSS is a severe septic shock caused by hemolytic streptococci, which can spread through respiratory droplets or contact with wounds. The infection can lead to shock and multiple organ failure within 24 to 48 hours, with a mortality rate of up to 30 percent, making it highly lethal.
Source – CGTN