Tick Bites Cause Multiple Deaths
The exact cause of the disease is still under investigation; an article published in the "People's Military Doctor" 10 years ago mentioned that the Nantong "Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets" can treat tick bites.
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Recently, there have been cases in Henan and other places where tick bites have caused illness and even death. On September 10th, Li Dexin, director of the Institute of Viral Diseases at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, answered reporters' questions, pointing out that the specific pathogen causing the tick-borne disease in Henan has not yet been finally determined. Health experts stated that this condition is temporarily referred to as fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, and within it, the Bunyavirus which can cause hemorrhagic fever and influenza-like diseases was discovered. However, overall, the disease is controllable, and the public does not need to panic. "For tick-borne diseases, China already has mature prevention and control measures. Avoiding tick bites is the main measure to reduce infection."
Pathogen Unclear, Currently Not a Statutory Infectious Disease
Wang Shiwen, director of the Virus Institute at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters that the specific pathogen causing the tick-borne disease in Shangcheng County has not yet been finally determined. Identifying the pathogen is still very difficult and requires further research and confirmation. In fact, the disease caused by ticks has typical regional characteristics, but the country has not yet delineated the specific areas prone to outbreaks.
During the routine press conference of the Ministry of Health, officials first explained that in 2006, China first discovered this disease mainly transmitted by ticks, intracellular parasites without a fixed shape. Because patients had fever and reduced platelets, it is now called fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Tick-borne diseases are relatively common, only this time a new pathogen was transmitted, a newly discovered causative factor, and the Bunyavirus was isolated from both patients and ticks. Li Dexin, director of the Institute of Viral Prevention and Control at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, introduced: "The Bunyavirus is an RNA virus. Our country already knows that the Bunyavirus includes the Hantavirus that causes epidemic hemorrhagic fever, and the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus that causes Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever, all of which are Bunyaviruses. So far, there may be very few truly effective drugs for this virus." It is understood that currently known, ticks can carry 83 types of viruses, 14 types of bacteria, 17 types of relapsing fever spirochetes, 32 types of protozoa, etc. Various pathogens can cause "fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome", including Anaplasma infections and viral infections, etc. Currently, it is still a newly discovered causative factor, whether it is Anaplasma or Bunyavirus. According to relevant regulations, it is not yet a statutory reportable infectious disease, and diagnostic criteria, treatment methods, etc., are still under further study. The incidence and mortality rate also require time for statistics and analysis.
Tick Numbers Will Gradually Decrease As Weather Gets Colder
However, experts attending the press conference repeatedly emphasized that this disease is not as terrible as people think. As long as the opportunities for contact with ticks are reduced, and if one feels feverish, they should seek medical attention immediately, then the disease can be controlled in terms of prevention and treatment. Moreover, with the change of seasons, the disease will gradually decrease. Li Dexin said: "From April to August each year, this disease tends to occur more concentratedly during this period, which may be related to its vector, ticks. When the weather gets cold, these vectors stop being active, and at the same time, outdoor activities and agricultural production decrease, so there are fewer patients, and the disease disappears accordingly."
As of September 8, a total of 557 such syndrome cases were monitored in Henan Province. The reporter saw several patients still receiving treatment in the infectious disease ward of the PLA No. 154 Hospital. Dr. Cui Ning, director of the hospital's infectious disease department, told reporters that this year, the hospital received a total of 137 patients with this condition. Most of the patients came from Shangcheng County, and currently, there are 7 patients receiving treatment in the hospital. These severe patients were mostly initially misdiagnosed with a cold, and received intravenous treatment at local village health clinics, which delayed their treatment. They only came to the hospital 7-8 days after the onset of symptoms.
Foreign Vaccines May Not Be Effective
It is reported that as early as February 2008, the Ministry of Health issued the "Technical Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis," aimed at improving medical professionals' understanding and control of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, rather than targeting the current multi-provincial tick-borne disease outbreak. Currently, the main disease triggered by ticks in Henan is Anaplasmosis, while Lyme disease was triggered in Beijing many years ago. "Compared to domestic situations, some countries in Europe and America are 'severe areas,' such as Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and the United States. Environments with more mountains and dense vegetation are preferred by ticks."
According to the information released by the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there were individual cases of tick bites spreading Lyme disease in Beijing many years ago, but there have been no case reports in the past one or two decades. However, those bitten will not directly transmit the virus to others, but like hepatitis B virus, if one comes into direct contact with the patient's blood or other body fluids, there is a possibility of infection.
"Currently, only the United States and Europe have isolated pathogens from tick bite patients. At the same time, the United States has developed a vaccine, but although they are the same ticks, they mutate in different places, so this vaccine is not very effective in Europe, and many people who have been vaccinated have not seen much effect." Dr. Wang Fu said.
■ Link Other Diseases Spread by Ticks
Forest encephalitis is an acute infectious disease of the nervous system caused by the forest encephalitis virus. The virus can be preserved for a long time in ticks, passing through various developmental stages and being transmitted to the next generation or third and fourth generations via eggs, and can overwinter in ticks. It mainly occurs between May and August, mainly distributed in the forest areas of Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces.
Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever is a tick-borne acute infectious disease. The pathogen can be preserved in ticks for several months and transmitted via eggs. It is prevalent in Xinjiang, China, with peak incidence occurring in April and May.
Tick-borne relapsing fever, also known as endemic relapsing fever, is a natural zoonotic spirochetal disease transmitted by soft ticks. Irregular intermittent fever is its main clinical feature. There are outbreaks of this disease in Xinjiang, China, where Ornithodoros papillipes can be passed on for eight generations via eggs and can be stored for 14 years.
Q fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii, which often spreads between wild animals and livestock, with cattle and sheep being the main sources of infection for humans. This disease is distributed worldwide, and there have been confirmed cases in more than a dozen provinces, cities, and autonomous regions in China.
North Asian tick-borne rickettsiosis, also known as Siberian tick-borne typhus, is caused by Rickettsia sibirica. Small rodents are the main source of infection, with Dermacentor marginatus being the main vector, and Dermacentor reticulatus can also spread it. This disease exists in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Heilongjiang provinces in China.
Bacterial diseases such as plague, brucellosis, and tularemia. Ticks can preserve some pathogens for a long time and pass them on via eggs.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Beijing News, Legal Evening News
What Medications Can Treat Tick Bites?
"Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets"
Proven to Cure 50 Cases of Tick Bites
Reportedly, during the widespread discussion of the "tick bite deaths" incident, people have shown strong interest in medications used to treat tick bites. Yesterday, a report published many years ago in an authoritative medical journal mentioning a medication called "Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets" caught people's attention.
Yesterday, the reporter found in the 2000 issue (Volume 43, Issue 6) of the "People's Military Doctor" magazine, authored by "Zhou Qiuhua and Li Supeng from the PLA 8660 Hospital," an article titled "Treatment of 50 Cases of Tick Bites with Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets" stating that due to the location of the military unit in the Tian Shan forest area of Xinjiang, soldiers frequently suffered from tick bites. Treatment with Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets for 50 cases of tick bites yielded good results. The article states that 50 patients were clinically selected, all of whom were bitten by ticks during training, with some having residual tick bodies. After being bitten, all experienced swelling and pain, with some developing secondary infections accompanied by headaches, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and mild increases in white blood cells, "but without neurological symptoms or signs." The wounds were washed with 3% hydrogen peroxide and physiological saline, any residual tick bodies were removed, and then Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets were mixed with cool boiled water into a paste and applied externally once daily. Simultaneously, five tablets were taken orally three times daily. The result was "all 50 cases were cured with no adverse reactions."
Yesterday afternoon, the reporter learned from Nantong Jinghua Pharmaceutical Company, the sole manufacturer of Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets, that Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets were formerly called "Nantong Snake Medicine Tablets" and are traditional Chinese medicine developed by Mr. Jidesheng, an expert in snake medicine, based on a six-generation family secret recipe, listed as a state confidential variety. The General Logistics Department of the PLA widely uses Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets for treating snake and insect bites.
An expert from a hospital in Nantong told the reporter that the efficacy of Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets in treating snake and insect bites is significant, and tick bites should also be included. However, the recent tick-related fatalities represent a newly discovered causative factor, and whether Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets can effectively treat tick bites still needs verification. Zhu Chunlin, chairman of Nantong Jinghua Pharmaceutical Company, told the reporter that they would send experts to Xinyang, Henan today to discuss the feasibility of using Jidesheng Snake Medicine Tablets for treating tick bites with experts from the Ministry of Health. (Guo Xiaochuan)
Netizens Test Themselves Against Ticks
Claimed to Have Received Forest Encephalitis Vaccine
Recently, multiple deaths caused by tick bites in Shangcheng, Henan province, have made many netizens eager to know how to deal with these insects. A catpush.net user named "Yushijinxian" personally demonstrated by placing a tick on his hand, taking photos and uploading them to the forum, along with sharing his personal experience in dealing with ticks.
"Yushijinxian" said that due to work reasons, he frequently operates in the forested areas of Northeast China's three provinces, where he encountered these creatures ten years ago. Locals are wary of them, and many stories circulate about being bitten by grass-crawlers leading to death, or becoming vegetative even if not fatal, making them quite terrifying. These creatures are small in size and are commonly found in forests, especially in Yunnan-Lengshan forests.
He also introduced that before entering the forest every year, they receive a vaccine called Forest Encephalitis Vaccine, but the actual effectiveness of this vaccine is unclear. After being bitten by these insects, they suck blood until they die, leaving their bodies inside the human body, requiring forceful removal. Since their teeth and front claws have barbs, often the body is pulled out but the head remains inside the human body. The virus resides in their heads, so special attention must be paid to remove their heads with tweezers or even needles. Comprehensive report
Yesterday, the reporter visited Nanjing Andong Pet Hospital and found that promotional materials on various pet diseases consistently emphasize the prevention of ticks. Dr. Yao from Nanjing Andong Pet Hospital told the reporter that there is a pet medicine called "Berrel" specifically for killing ticks.
"At first, when it started to spread among pets, many hospitals in Nanjing couldn't diagnose the cause, and many dogs subsequently suffered from severe anemia. Some would also have fevers, pale tongues, and even seizures. Many doctors hadn't seen such cases before." Dr. Yao from the pet hospital told the reporter that cases increased from 2004 to 2005, seemingly reaching an outbreak trend. Starting in 2006, multiple pet hospitals in Nanjing researched and found that ticks were the culprits, intensifying prevention efforts, and in recent years, cases in Nanjing have almost disappeared. Now there is a pet medicine called "Berrel" specifically for killing ticks, and now German Bayer, Frontline, and other drugs are specifically targeted against these insects. Liu Liu
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