Tragic news has emerged from Odisha as at least six individuals have lost their lives due to scrub typhus infections, with the most recent fatality reported in Sundergarh district. Prior to this, five individuals from Bargarh district had succumbed to the disease, according to health officials cited by news agency PTI.
Kanhu Charan Nayak, the Chief District Medical and Public Health Officer of Sundergarh, revealed that since January, the district had recorded 132 cases of scrub typhus infection, and nearly all affected individuals had successfully recovered. However, there was a report of a patient allegedly dying due to scrub typhus.
In Bargarh district, the District Public Health Officer, Sadhu Charan Das, disclosed that out of the five reported deaths, two occurred in the Sohela block, and one each in the Attabira, Bheden, and Barpali blocks. Two of the deceased were diagnosed at the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla, and two others at Vikash Hospital in Bargarh. Another individual who succumbed to the disease had tested positive at a private clinic in Balangir district.
In response to these alarming developments, the Odisha state government has taken proactive measures. District health authorities have been directed to enhance surveillance for a seasonal upsurge in scrub typhus and leptospirosis. The Health and Family Welfare Department has issued directives to Chief District Medical and Public Health Officers, the Director of Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, and the Director of RGH in Rourkela.
Understanding Scrub Typhus
Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is transmitted to humans through bites from infected chiggers, which are the larval stage of mites. Individuals who frequently visit farmlands or forested areas are particularly susceptible to contracting the infection. Common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and occasionally a rash, as outlined by the CDC website.
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