Scrub typhus cases on the rising trend in Chitwan

Chitwan, July 31: Out of total 7,095 patients who came for treatment in various health facilities in Chitwan in the last fiscal year, 1,055 persons were diagnosed with scrub typhus infection. Of the infected ones, 395 were men and 660 are women.     

The District Public Health Office, Chitwan, shared that an individual succumbed to the scrub typhus infection during the period.     

According to the Office, 80 men and 134 women were from Bharatpur Metropolitan City, 22 men and 48 women from Khairahani Municipality, six men and five women from Madi Municipality, 53 men and 77 women from Ratnanagar Municipality and 24 men and 33 women from Rapti Municipality were confirmed to have infected with the scrub typhus in the last fiscal year that end on mid-July.     

Likewise, 22 men and 31 women were diagnosed with the scrub typhus from Kalika Municipality and 10 men and 14 women were from Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality.     

Moreover, 178 men and 318 women from other districts were also found with the infection during the lab tests in the Chitwan hospitals.     

In the previous fiscal year, 552 patients of scrub typhus were reported in the district out of the total 3,800 tests.     

Vector Control Inspector of Public Health Office, Chitwan, Ram KC said timely treatment was needed to save the patients from the scrub typhus while massive awareness dissemination help control this disease.     

He also urged the local communities to pay attention for community hygiene.     

Likewise, 30 more cases of scrub typhus were reported in the past two weeks.     

Scrub typhus is transmitted to humans through bites from mites that infest rodents or other animals. Symptoms include high fever, red eyes, coughing, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, and body pain. Black spots can sometimes appear at the bite site.     

Scrub typhus is caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi and is transmitted to humans through bites from infected mites (chiggers).     

Fever, redness in the eyes, cough, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, breathing complications, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, malaise, and sometimes black spots in the bite site are its common symptoms.     

To prevent infection, the people are advised wearing long-sleeved clothing, using insect repellent, maintaining clean surroundings, trimming grass near homes, and controlling rodents through proper grain storage.     

The first case of scrub typhus was reported in 2015 in Chitwan.     

Vector Control Inspector KC shared that the cases of the infected ones have increased year on year recently.(RSS)