Scrub Typhus In Odisha: Get Yourself Tested If Fever Persists, Says Top Health Official

Bhubaneswar: With 22 cases of scrub typhus being detected at VIMSAR, Burla, in the past three days, Public Health Director Dr Niranjan Mishra on Tuesday informed about availability of testing facility and treatment for the bacterial infection at all district headquarters hospitals in Odisha.

“Scrub typhus is caused by a bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi. It spreads to people through bite of infected chiggers. People especially farmers, who frequent farmland or forest, often get infected. The most common symptom of scrub typhus is fever and a dark, scab-like region called ‘eschar’ develops at the bite spot. Treatment is easy and available at district headquarters hospitals and there is nothing to panic,” he said.

Mishra further said that scrub typhus can be detected through ELISA system available at District Public Health Laboratory. “Doctors have been asked to test people for scrub typhus if fever persists. If diagnosed early, the disease can be treated effectively. Those infected respond to antibiotics,” he said.

He, however, added that it can have fatal consequences if left untreated.

The health official said that such cases have been reported from Keonjhar, Bargarh, Nabarangpur and Sundargarh districts.