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Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus 2026

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A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 11447

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Masayuki Saijo

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Guest Editor

1. Medical Affairs Department, Health and Welfare Bureau, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
2. National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
Interests: SFTS; SFTSV

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are still facing a global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome virus coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In 2013–2016, there was a huge outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa. The global spread of Mpox virus infections, which are endemic to Central and Western Africa, began in 2022 as a form of sexually transmitted disease. It was found that Mpox virus had spilled over from some species of rodents to humans. In the last 30 years, we have identified many novel infectious diseases with a high case fatality rate caused by viruses that spilled over from animals to humans. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is one of these emerging viral infections that should be included in this category.

SFTS was reported to be a novel bunyavirus infection by Chinese scientists in 2011. SFTS is a tick-borne viral infection with high morbidity and mortality. SFTS was discovered to be endemic to Japan and South Korea in 2012. The case fatality rate in patients with SFTS in Japan is reported to be approximately 30%. The vectors, which play a role in transmitting the causative agent, Bandavirus dabieense (formally SFTS virus (SFTSV)), include Haemaphysalis longicornis, amongst others. Furthermore, patients with SFTS have been identified in Taiwan, Vietnam, and Thailand, indicating that the endemic area of SFTS is much wider than previously thought.

SFTSV is circulating in nature in Asia including China, Korea, and Japan through transmission of the virus between some species of ticks and mammals. The evidence indicates that SFTS has occurred in the past and will continue to occur in the future. We cannot escape from the risk of being infected with SFTSV, and we are unable to eradicate this virus.

More than 10 years have passed since the discovery of SFTS. We have had some achievements in the elucidation of SFTSV characteristics, clarification of SFTS epidemiology, pathophysiology of SFTS in patients, mechanisms of SFTSV maintenance in nature, and in the development of specific treatments and vaccines. In this Special Issue, we aim to collect recent research and achievements in the study on SFTSV and its infection. We welcome submissions addressing topics including but not limited to the following:

New topics in SFTSV virology;
Epidemiology of SFTS;
Clinical aspects and pathophysiology of SFTS in patients;
Diagnostics of SFTS in humans and animals;
SFTS as a zoonotic disease;
Mechanisms of SFTSV maintenance in nature;
Development of specific treatments for patients with SFTS;
Development of vaccines against SFTS;
Other topics specific to SFTS.

Dr. Masayuki Saijo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

SFTS
SFTSV
emerging viral infections

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10 pages, 548 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seroprevalence and Epidemiological Characteristics of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in Patients with Chronic Diseases in Korea

by Jongyoun Yi, Ahreum Kim, Maeng Seok Noh, Changhoon Kim, Hyun Jin Son, Mee Kyung Ko and Kye-Hyung Kim

Viruses 2026, 18(2), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/v18020217 - 6 Feb 2026

Viewed by 615

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne disease with a high mortality rate. While research has focused on high-risk rural populations and healthy individuals in endemic regions, such as Jeju Island, data on patients with underlying chronic diseases remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of SFTS virus (SFTSV) in patients with various chronic diseases across the Republic of Korea. Serum samples (n = 2948) collected from 10 regional biobanks between 2009 and 2019 were analyzed using a double-antigen sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall seroprevalence was 1.22% (36/2948). Seropositivity was significantly higher in males (1.73%) than in females (0.73%, p = 0.013) and increased with age (p = 0.001), peaking at 2.73% in individuals aged 70–79. Geographically, the highest rates were in Gyeongbuk (3.03%), Jeonnam (2.40%), and Gangwon (1.83%). Multivariable logistic regression showed older age (adjusted odds ratio 1.47 per 10-year increase, 95% confidence interval: 1.12–1.97) as the strongest independent predictor of seropositivity. Patients with hepatobiliary/pancreatic cancer (3.16%) and prostate cancer (2.50%) exhibited higher seroprevalence than those in other disease groups. SFTSV exposure is non-negligible among those with chronic diseases, particularly older males in rural provinces. Public health strategies should specifically address these vulnerable populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus 2026)

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11 pages, 1687 KB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence of Antibodies to Japanese Encephalitis Virus and Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus in Wild Boars Captured Across Different Locations in Toyama Prefecture, Japan

by Shunsuke Yazawa, Kotoha Yoshida, Kotaro Fujii, Yumiko Saga, Sara Taniguchi, Ryosuke Suzuki, Chang-Kweng Lim, Miki Ishida, Kazunori Oishi and Hideki Tani

Viruses 2025, 17(12), 1585; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17121585 - 5 Dec 2025

Viewed by 1010

Abstract

Wild boars inhabit fields, hills, and farms across Japan, where they are fed on by numerous arthropods, including mosquitoes and ticks. Consequently, they are frequently exposed to arthropod-borne pathogens. In Toyama Prefecture, blood samples from captured wild boars have long been collected for classical swine fever virus antibody testing, with detailed records kept on the capture locations. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of antibodies against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) using 3059 serum samples collected from wild boars over the past six years. A previously developed single-round infectious particles (SRIPs) assay system was employed for the analysis. We also examined the geographic distribution of antibody-positive wild boars. The results showed that antibody positivity rates for both JEV and SFTSV increased annually from 2019 to 2024. Geographical analysis revealed that JEV antibody-positive wild boars were distributed throughout Toyama Prefecture, whereas SFTSV antibody-positive wild boars were concentrated mainly in the northwestern region and along the western prefectural border. These findings suggest that JEV continue to pose an infection risk across the entire prefecture, while SFTSV has been actively spreading in the northwestern area during 2023–2024, raising concern over an increasing risk of human infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus 2026)

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15 pages, 3171 KB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of a Novel Genotype of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (SFTSV) in Northern Hebei Province, China

by Minghao Geng, Xueqi Wang, Yamei Wei, Yan Li, Yanan Cai, Jiandong Li, Caixiao Jiang, Xinyang Zhang, Wentao Wu, Nana Guo, Guangyue Han, Xu Han, Tiezhu Liu, Qi Li and Shiwen Wang

Viruses 2025, 17(12), 1534; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17121534 - 23 Nov 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1285 | Correction

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV), is an emerging tick-borne disease in East Asia. SFTS monitoring has been carried out since 2010 in mainland China, but no confirmed human cases or infected vectors had been reported from the northern regions of Hebei Province. We intensified surveillance in this area by collecting serum samples from patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO) and ticks from local habitats. Subsequently, all collected samples were screened for SFTSV by qRT-PCR. SFTSV RNA was detected in two patient sera from Chengde (2.2%). In six, positive ticks were detected among the Haemaphysalis verticalis (8.6%) collected from Zhangjiakou; no positive ticks were detected among the ticks collected from Chengde. Complete viral genomes were recovered from positive tick samples via next-generation sequencing and subjected to a suite of bioinformatic analyses. Two complete genomes from Haemaphysalis verticalis formed a distinct clade with an Inner Mongolia strain across L/M/S (bootstrap = 1.0) and separate from genotypes A–F; pairwise p-distances to genotypes A–F were >0.11 across L/M/S, supporting designation of a distinct genotype. We designate this lineage as genotype G; no credible recombination was detected. Based on the L segment, molecular-clock analyses dated the genotype G lineage to the late 13th century, predating the crown age of genotypes A–F (~18th century) by more than 400 years. We provide the first evidence of SFTSV circulation in northern Hebei and identify a novel, deeply divergent lineage. This finding confirms the co-circulation of distinct viral lineages (G and F) within the province and provides critical new insights into the virus’s diversity and evolutionary history. These results expand the known range and genetic diversity of SFTSV, underscoring the need for enhanced surveillance and ecological investigation in emerging regions. It is necessary to strengthen public health education, improve the early diagnosis and treatment ability of medical workers, and provide a scientific basis for targeted public health interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus 2026)

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28 pages, 3873 KB

Open AccessArticle

Homologous and Heterologous Vaccination Regimens with mRNA and rVSV Platforms Induce Potent Immune Responses Against SFTSV Glycoprotein

by Tomaz B. Manzoni, Jonna B. Westover, Kendall A. Lundgreen, Philip D. Hicks, Raegan J. Petch, Jordan T. Ort, Drew Weissman, Steven H. Y. Fan, Scott E. Hensley, Norbert Pardi, Brian B. Gowen and Paul Bates

Viruses 2025, 17(8), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17081095 - 8 Aug 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2477

Abstract

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a highly pathogenic bunyavirus with a high case-fatality ratio for which there is no approved vaccine. Studies have assessed different vaccine technologies. However, few studies have yet assessed the immunogenicity of heterologous prime-boost regimens. Methods: Here, we compare a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated nucleoside-modified mRNA-based vaccine encoding the SFTSV glycoproteins, Gn and Gc, to our recently described recombinant VSV SFTSV (rVSV-SFTSV) vaccine in single dose, homologous, and heterologous prime-boost regimens in mice. Results: We show that all regimens protect from pathogenic SFTSV challenge and elicit strong long-lasting antibody responses. Furthermore, strong cellular immunity is elicited by mRNA-LNP immunizations and by heterologous immunization with an rVSV-SFTSV prime and mRNA-LNP boost. Cellular responses robustly polarized towards a type 1 response, characterized by high levels of IFNγ, TNFα, and IL-2. Immunization with mRNA led to a mixed type 1/type 2 immune response, as determined by antibody isotypes IgG1 and IgG2c. We found that homologous immunization leads to stronger antibody responses while heterologous immunization drives a slightly stronger cellular response. Conclusions: Taken together, the vaccine platforms described here represent strong vaccine candidates for further development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus 2026)

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9 pages, 762 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seroprevalence and Epidemiological Insights into Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea

by Kye-Hyung Kim, Ahreum Kim, Maengseok Noh, Changhoon Kim, Hyunjin Son, Mee Kyung Ko and Jongyoun Yi

Viruses 2025, 17(4), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17040466 - 25 Mar 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1442

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by the SFTS virus, posing significant public health challenges in East Asia. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of SFTS on Jeju Island, Korea, and to identify the demographic and geographic factors influencing exposure to the virus. A total of 1001 serum samples collected from healthy individuals between 2009 and 2016 were analyzed using a double-antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall seroprevalence was 1.7%, with slightly higher rates observed in females (2.06%) than in males (1.29%); however, this difference was not statistically significant. Seroprevalence increased with age, peaking at 2.50% in individuals over aged 60 and over. Regional analysis revealed elevated seroprevalence in the eastern coastal areas (4.41%), which was attributed to population density and environmental factors favoring human–tick interactions. These findings suggest that population distribution and land use patterns, rather than altitude alone, significantly affect the exposure of SFTS on Jeju Island. Targeted tick control strategies and public health interventions that focus on high-risk regions and demographics could mitigate SFTS transmission. This study provides valuable insights into the epidemiological characteristics of SFTS and emphasizes the importance of tailored preventive measures in endemic regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus 2026)

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