Odisha On High Alert As Scrub Typhus Claims Six Lives. Details

The Odisha government has asked district health authorities to increase the surveillance for seasonal upsurge of scrub typhus amid the deaths reported in the state.

Scrub typhus is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers.

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At least six people have died in Odisha due to scrub typhus infections. The latest scrub typhus death has been reported from Sundergarh district. Earlier, five people from Bargarh district had succumbed to the disease, health officials said on Thursday, as per news agency PTI.

"Since January, 132 scrub typhus positive cases have been detected in Sundergarh district, of which almost all people have been cured. However, we received a report claiming that a patient allegedly died due to scrub typhus," said Kanhu Charan Nayak, chief district medical and public health officer of Sundergarh, as quoted by PTI.

The district public health officer in Bargarh, Sadhu Charan Das said that out of the five deaths that were reported earlier, two were from the Sohela block and one each from the Attabira, Bheden, and Barpali blocks of the district.

"While two each of the deceased were diagnosed in Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla, and Vikash Hospital in Bargarh, another deceased tested positive in a private clinic at Balangir in the district," The Indian Express quoted Das as saying.

Odisha Govt On Alert Mode

In the wake of the deaths reported in Odisha, the state government has asked district health authorities to increase the surveillance for seasonal upsurge of scrub typhus and leptospirosis. The Health and Family Welfare Department has directed all the Chief District Medical and Public Health Officers, the Director, Capital Hospital Bhubaneswar, and the Director, RGH, Rourkela.

"Scrub typhus and Leptospirosis cases are being reported from most of the districts across the state. So intensive surveillance system for early diagnosis need to be strengthened to ensure timely treatment for prevention and management of Scrub Typhus and Leptospirosis," read a statement from Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare Department.

"The Health Department has asked the district health authorities to ensure the availability of tests in DPHL by procuring and supplying the required test kits, sensitising doctors to advise the tests in cases of PUO, increasing public awareness and early diagnosis, and increasing surveillance," as per the statement.

The department has also asked the authorities to use appropriate antibiotics and maintain an adequate stock of drugs.

The state health department issued directions to the health authorities of different districts and said that all deaths due to the disease should be investigated and necessary measures should be taken to contain it. "All deaths due to these diseases should be investigated and necessary containment measures to be taken, Data pertaining to such diseases should be shared with SSU in the prescribed format regularly," the department said, as reported by news agency ANI.

What is Scrub Typhus?

Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a disease caused by a bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi. Scrub typhus is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites).

The infection spreads to people who make frequent visits to farmlands or forests. Some of the common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes a rash, as per the CDC website.