There’s been a sudden, concerning expansion of the tick-borne illness known as 'Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome' (SFTS) in Japan. This potentially fatal disease is predominantly transmitted through tick bites. The headline suggests an alarming uptrend in the disease's prevalence, which necessitates immediate response from both health officials and the public. The specifics, such as the concrete figures of the infected population, the areas particularly affected, and the plans for containment are not detailed in the headline but will be covered in the news body.

In Japan, there is a heightened public and governmental focus on preventing and managing vector-borne diseases such as SFTS since they can rapidly diffuse through the population, leading to serious health crises. The government often provides advisories and updates to citizens about potential outbreaks, and directives on how to protect themselves from such infections, indicating a social value placed on public health and safety.

In the United States and European Union, tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease are taken with equal seriousness. Resources are invested into research, public awareness activities, and preventive strategies. However, the species of ticks transmitting the disease may vary, which might demand different methods to control and prevent the spread of the disease.