Scrub Typhus

• Every millimetre increase in rainfall could lead to a 5 to 0.7 per cent rise in monthly scrub typhus cases, according to a new study conducted in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore.

About Scrub typhus

• Scrub typhus is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted through infected mites.
  • Mites carrying the disease are generally found in the bush, jungle and paddy areas, so the disease is also called jungle or bush typhus.
• Humans pick up the infection when they walk, sit, or lie down on the ground infested by mites.
• Symptoms include fever, headache, body ache and sometimes a rash.
  • In severe cases, the infection can lead to respiratory distress, brain and lung inflammation, kidney failure and multi-organ failure, ultimately resulting in death.
• Several factors, like vector abundance, climatic factors, exposures like farming and owning domestic animals, outdoor activities and sanitation, affect its prevalence.
• The disease tends to be seasonal in the endemic areas.
  • Scrub typhus incidence is associated with relative humidity, temperature and rainfall.
• No vaccine is available to prevent scrub typhus.
• Treated with the antibiotic doxycycline.