Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Patients with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Retrospectively Identified in Korea, 2008-2013.

The incidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) has increased in Korea since a first report in 2013. We investigated whether SFTS existed before 2013 using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and stored blood samples from febrile patients with thrombocytopenia. Four cases of SFTS were identified, with the earliest occurring in 2008.