Scrub typhus raises health concern in Odisha’s Bolangir; 337 cases detected in 2 months

Bhubaneswar: After Bargarh and Sundargarh districts in Odisha, scrub typhus has become a public health issue in Bolangir.

As many as 337 scrub typhus cases have been detected in Bolangir district in last two months.

Altogether 172 people were found positive for scrub typhus in Bolangir in August this year. Similarly, at least 165 people diagnosed with the disease in the district till 22 of this month, said Bolangir Chief District Medical Officer (in-charge) Kuber Chandra Mahant.

“Scrub typhus can be cured through medication. We are creating awareness in this regard among people. We are conducting regular tests to detect fresh cases of the disease,” added the CDMO.

It is worth mentioning here that at least five persons have died of scrub typhus in Bargarh district since August 31 this year. Similarly, one person has succumbed to the disease in Sundargarh district recently.

Till date, altogether 221 people in Sundargarh district have been diagnosed with scrub typhus, said CDMO Kanhucharan Nayak.

Notably, scrub typhus is a disease caused by a bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is not transmitted directly from human to human. It is only spread by the bites of chigger, a trombiculid mite belonging to the genus Leptotrombidium, sources said.

“Scrub typhus is a disease transmitted by chiggers. It is spread to people especially farmers who frequently visit farmland or forest. The most common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever. The chigger bites can cause itchy, inflamed bumps on the skin called ‘eschar’. It is one of the infections if left untreated, can have fatal consequences,” said a health expert.