Turns Out Petting Foxes Like in Ghost of Yotei Can Be Deadly

Attempting to reproduce what you see in the game can lead to serious problems.

The developers of Ghost of Yotei included more than just combat systems — the game also offers a variety of activities. The protagonist can stroke the local foxes, but this is not something to try in real life.

Residents of Hokkaido, Japan, noticed this in Ghost of Yotei and issued a warning about the potential risks:

«Although a fox may look cute and friendly, visitors to Hokkaido are advised to keep a safe distance and under no circumstances should they touch one. The red fox can carry a parasite — a tapeworm called Echinococcus — which can infect humans and cause echinococcosis; without timely treatment, the disease can be fatal.»

Still, the game’s heroine is safe — within the historical period depicted in the game, that parasite was not present in Hokkaido.

Source: iXBT.games