A 64-year-old man in South Chungcheong Province died from a tick-borne virus after being hospitalized for a week, putting Korea’s health authorities on high alert over the deadly disease.

This is the first confirmed death this year from the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), which took the lives of 17 people last year.

According to the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Monday, the man was hospitalized on May 3 after exhibiting symptoms of SFTS, which include vomiting and high fever. He died a week later.

His 63-year-old wife had also contracted SFTS earlier but fully recovered. She has been released from hospital.

The virus, spread by ticks, causes fever and vomiting, and platelet and white blood cell levels to drop. The virus can also cause multiple organ failure and death.

In 2013, a total of 36 Koreans were infected with the tick-borne virus. SFTS was first reported in China in 2009 and in Korea, the first case was reported in May last year.

When bitten by ticks, the virus causing SFTS normally undergoes a dormant period of six to 14 days. Then, those infected suffer from a high fever, vomiting and diarrhea. There is no known cure or vaccine for SFTS, the KCDC said, adding that patients must visit hospital immediately and receive treatment aimed at boosting the immune system.

The agency stressed the importance of avoiding tick-bites, saying that people should wear long sleeves and boots when engaging in outdoor activities from April to November when ticks are active. It added that disinfectants must be used after rescuing or treating wild animals and clothes must not be taken off where animals are bred or treated.