Japan is experiencing an increased risk of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), a tick-borne infection primarily transmitted by outdoor ticks. The virus can also spread through contact with infected animals or humans via bodily fluids, droplets, or excrement. Notably, a cat in Ibaraki Prefecture tested positive for SFTS, marking the first confirmed case in the Kanto region. The cat, which was normally kept indoors, had temporarily escaped outdoors and was found with numerous ticks on its ear. This development indicates a rising risk of SFTS transmission through ticks and pets in the area. Additionally, the number of SFTS patients in Japan has reached 91 this year, the highest recorded for the same period, surpassing 2023 figures. Authorities have urged people to wash their hands after contact with animals to prevent infection. In Kanagawa Prefecture's Matsuda Town, a woman in her 60s was also infected with SFTS but is currently recovering. Meanwhile, in Spain, an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu has been reported on a fattening turkey farm in the Extremadura region, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This marks the return of avian influenza to Spain after two and a half years since the last outbreak. Studies suggest that several local factors may influence the potential for highly pathogenic avian flu outbreaks in Europe.