In Japan, 2 cats that underwent surgery in a room where a sick dog had been euthanized became ill within 9 days of surgery. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus was detected in all 3 animals; nucleotide sequence identity was 100%. Suspected cause was an uncleaned pulse oximeter probe used for all patients.
Keywords: Japan; SFTS phlebovirus; cats; dogs; severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome; severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus; veterinarians; viruses; zoonoses.