Tamil Nadu Sees Spike in Scrub Typhus: Health Officials Raise Alarm

Scrub typhus cases are rising in Tamil Nadu, with districts like Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tirupattur, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, and Vellore worst affected. The Public Health Department has instructed officials to control this bacterial infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. 

Transmitted through bites of infected chiggers in bushy areas, scrub typhus affects all ages. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and rashes, with severe cases causing complications like pneumonitis, meningitis, heart failure, and organ damage.

Health officials urge precautions like wearing protective clothing, using repellents, and avoiding high-risk areas. Outdoor workers and those near bushy areas must take care.