Researchers in China have developed a potent antibody that could combat severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a tick-borne disease with a mortality rate of up to 30 percent. The discovery offers new hope for tackling this growing threat in East Asia.
In the world of tick-borne illnesses, Lyme disease grabs the headlines. For example, Greg Yang, one of the 12 original co-founders of Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI, said in late January that he was stepping back from the company after being diagnosed with the disease, noting that accidentally eating the wrong food would leave him “extremely tired,” requiring days to recover.
But there is a more dangerous condition transmitted by ticks that a team at a Chinese university might now have a way to treat. The syndrome, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), caused by the Dabie bandavirus and spread by the Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, has a mortality rate of up to 30 percent. It was first identified in 2009 during investigations into cases of a then-unknown illness involving a sudden rise in body temperature.
The researchers said the discovery could “open up new avenues” for tackling the growing threat posed by ticks. This ‘super antibody’ represents a potential breakthrough in addressing the parasitic danger, particularly in East Asia, including China, Japan, and South Korea.
The development highlights the increasing global attention to tick-borne diseases, from Europe and North America to Australia and New Zealand. The team is based in Hangzhou, underscoring local innovation's role in public health challenges.
