CHITWAN: The number of scrub typhus cases recorded in Chitwan district during the current fiscal year has reached 234, according to the Public Health Office, Chitwan.
Of the total cases, 142 were reported among residents of the district, while the remaining 92 involved people from other districts who came to Chitwan for treatment.
Ram KC, a vector control inspector at the office, said the infections were confirmed through testing of 1,816 samples.
Among the district’s local levels, Ratnanagar Municipality recorded the highest number of cases, with 46 infections, including 18 men and 28 women. Bharatpur Metropolitan City reported 32 cases, comprising nine men and 23 women.
Similarly, 22 cases were reported in Khairahani Municipality, 20 in Rapti Municipality, 17 in Kalika Municipality, three in Madi Municipality and two in Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality.
According to the office, women account for a higher proportion of infections than men. Among the 142 patients from within the district, 52 were men and 90 were women. Of the 92 patients from outside the district, 34 were men and 58 were women.
No deaths from scrub typhus have been reported in the district so far, the office said.
What is Scrub Typhus and how does it spread?
Scrub typhus is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted to humans through the bites of infected larval mites known as chiggers. These microscopic mites are commonly found in areas with vegetation, including grasslands and bushes, and are associated with rodents and other small animals.
The disease does not spread directly from person to person. Common symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, extreme weakness, nausea and skin rashes.
A characteristic sign of scrub typhus is an eschar, a dark, scab-like sore that may develop at the site of the mite bite. Without timely treatment, the infection can cause serious complications affecting the lungs, liver, kidneys and brain, potentially leading to organ failure or death.
Vector Control Inspector KC urged the public to keep the areas around their homes free of overgrown bushes and vegetation and to wear clothing that covers the body when working in fields or collecting fodder.
He also advised anyone experiencing symptoms of scrub typhus to seek prompt testing and treatment at the nearest health facility, warning that the risk of infection remains significant during the current season.
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