Society
Japanese Scientists Develop Rapid Test Kit for Tick-Borne Deadly Virus
Scientists at Osaka University are developing a rapid PCR-based test kit for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), a tick-borne virus with up to 30% mortality. The kit provides results in under an hour, and researchers warn climate change may fuel wider spread across Japan. Trials on 200 samples show over 95% accuracy, with regulatory approval expected within a year.