Scrub Typhus cases rising ; What you need to know about this deadly mite infection

Five scrub typhus deaths have struck fear in Bargarh, Odisha, while nine people have succumbed to the infection in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla, prompting the district administration to take urgent action to contain the situation.

As per Sadhu Charan Das, the Chief District Medical and Public Health Officer of Bargarh, Odisha, among the five individuals who succumbed to the lethal injection, two cases originated in the Sohela block, with the remaining instances traced back to Attabira, Bheden, and Barpali blocks within the Bargarh district.

Meanwhile, in Shimla, the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) is experiencing a significant surge in patients presenting symptoms indicative of this severe infection. Officials report a total of 295 confirmed cases of the illness within the district.

Scrub typhus is a bacterial infection caused by the Orientia tsutsugamushi bacterium, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected chiggers, which are tiny mites found in the larval stage. This disease is prevalent in rural areas of Asia, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Australia.

According to the CDC, common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, muscle pain, and a characteristic eschar or skin lesion at the site of the chigger bite. If left untreated, it can lead to severe complications involving multiple organs, such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys.

Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics like doxycycline are crucial to effectively manage scrub typhus and prevent severe complications. Reducing exposure to chiggers by wearing protective clothing and using insect repellents is also recommended in endemic areas to prevent infection.