Japan is experiencing a sharp increase in potentially fatal infections caused by a bacteria, group A streptococcus. Over the last three months, 517 cases of severe invasive infection have been recorded in the country.
This caused its football team to cancel a qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup which was to be held in North Korea. The bacteria in question is actually not specific to Japan. It is a commensal bacterium of the throat, specific to the human species, especially present in children. In a class of 30 students, it is estimated that around 10% carry this bacteria without knowing it.