Ticks collected near a livestock farm. [Provided by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency]
Ticks collected near a livestock farm. [Provided by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency]

As rising summer temperatures drive up tick activity, livestock farmers working in and around barns and pastures face heightened risk. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or SFTS, has no approved vaccine or treatment, making prevention — through proper work clothing and repellents — the only reliable defense.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency on Wednesday urged workers near livestock barns and pastures to wear long-sleeved clothing and boots, secure their cuffs and trouser hems, and apply tick repellents according to label instructions.

South Korea is home to a variety of hard ticks, including the Asian longhorned tick, distributed across forests, grasslands and other outdoor environments. These ticks can transmit not only SFTS but also the pathogens behind Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis.

SFTS is a zoonotic disease transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. Both humans and livestock can develop symptoms including high fever, chills, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and severe cases can be fatal.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 2,065 SFTS cases were reported in South Korea between 2013 and 2024, resulting in 381 deaths — a cumulative fatality rate of 18.5%. With no approved vaccine or treatment available, avoiding tick bites remains the most critical preventive measure.

Livestock farms are particularly vulnerable because barns and grazing areas often border grasslands and brush where ticks thrive. Ticks in tall grass latch onto people and animals to feed, so workers in these areas should minimize exposed skin.

Before heading out, workers should put on long-sleeved work clothes and boots and fasten cuffs and trouser hems tightly. Tick repellents should be applied at the recommended dosage and frequency. During work, sitting or lying directly on grass should be avoided, as should contact with wild animals.

After finishing work, workers should carefully check their bodies and clothing for attached ticks. Grass around livestock barns should be cleared regularly, and livestock should also be inspected for ticks.

Anyone who develops symptoms such as high fever, vomiting or diarrhea within two weeks of outdoor work should seek medical attention immediately and inform the doctor of any time spent working near barns or in grassy areas.

Since 2023, the quarantine agency has been collecting and testing ticks at 76 sites near livestock farms across the country, monitoring the distribution of tick-borne pathogens year-round. No SFTS virus genetic material has been detected in ticks collected so far this year.

However, the agency is stepping up regional surveillance as tick activity peaks during the summer months. The number of ticks testing positive for SFTS virus genes was 28 in 2023, 32 in 2024 and five last year.

"We will continue to monitor hard ticks and tick-borne pathogens near livestock farms nationwide and promptly share information needed for prevention and disease control," agency chief Choe Jeong-rok said. "We also ask farmers and the general public to follow tick prevention guidelines during outdoor activities and work."


adastra@heraldcorp.com