Jaipur: With the onset of monsoon in Rajasthan, the state health department issued an alert Monday over the potential rise in scrub typhus cases, a zoonotic disease transmitted by chigger mites that thrive in green bushes and scrubby vegetation. The department has urged the animal husbandry department to take preventive measures to curb mite breeding among animals.“During monsoon and post-monsoon, we witness a sudden spike in scrub typhus cases. We have requested the animal husbandry department to conduct spraying on animals to prevent chigger breeding,” a senior health official said. Scrub typhus, caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, spreads to humans through the bite of infected mites, commonly known as chiggers. The disease, which emerged in Rajasthan around 2010, has become a seasonal concern, especially during monsoon when vegetation increases.Symptoms of scrub typhus closely resemble other seasonal illnesses, making clinical diagnosis difficult. A distinctive black spot at the bite site may appear, but laboratory testing is essential for accurate diagnosis. If not treated promptly, the disease can turn fatal. While primarily associated with animal hosts, scrub typhus poses a serious health risk to humans. Jaipur: With the onset of monsoon in Rajasthan, the state health department issued an alert Monday over the potential rise in scrub typhus cases, a zoonotic disease transmitted by chigger mites that thrive in green bushes and scrubby vegetation. The department has urged the animal husbandry department to take preventive measures to curb mite breeding among animals.“During monsoon and post-monsoon, we witness a sudden spike in scrub typhus cases. We have requested the animal husbandry department to conduct spraying on animals to prevent chigger breeding,” a senior health official said. Scrub typhus, caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, spreads to humans through the bite of infected mites, commonly known as chiggers. The disease, which emerged in Rajasthan around 2010, has become a seasonal concern, especially during monsoon when vegetation increases.Symptoms of scrub typhus closely resemble other seasonal illnesses, making clinical diagnosis difficult. A distinctive black spot at the bite site may appear, but laboratory testing is essential for accurate diagnosis. If not treated promptly, the disease can turn fatal. While primarily associated with animal hosts, scrub typhus poses a serious health risk to humans.
