Scrub Typhus Infection Found in 893 Patients in Chitwan

Scrub typhus infection has been detected in 893 patients who visited various hospitals in Chitwan.

According to Ram Kesi, kit controller at the District Public Health Office, Chitwan, 621 of the infected patients are from Chitwan. The infection was found in 246 patients from Ratnanagar Municipality, 117 from Khairhani Municipality, and 90 from Bharatpur Metropolitan City.

Additionally, 82 patients from Rapti Municipality, 69 from Kalika Municipality, 7 from Madi Municipality, and 10 from Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality were also infected, Kesi said.

Last year, 1,055 patients were infected with scrub typhus out of 7,095 tested. One person died from the infection this year.

Scrub typhus is spread by infected chiggers, which are found in rodents and other small animals. Symptoms of the disease include high fever, red eyes, cough, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, severe headache, muscle pain, and a dark spot at the site of the bite.

Prevention Measures

To prevent the disease, Kesi advised wearing long-sleeved clothing and suitable shoes when going to fields, forests, or jungles, and applying insecticides to exposed skin. He also recommended keeping the environment clean, storing food properly to control rodents, and not allowing grass to grow too long in fields and surroundings.