What is scrub typhus? These are the must know facts about the disease…

#ScrubTyphus #VarkalaGirlDeath #ChelluPani


A 15-year old girl has died of scrub typhus, known as ‘chellu pani’ in local parlance, in Kerala’s Varkala. The deceased was identified as Ashwathy, who was awaiting results for her 10th standard examination, panchayat authorities said on Thursday. A native of Cherunniyoor, a hamlet located over 40 kms away from here, the girl died at a hospital last evening, they said. Following the death, Health Minister Veena George directed a special medical team to visit her native place and the hospital where she was admitted to immediately. The village officer in Cherunniyoor has already visited the place and collected primary details in this regard, the Minister said in a statement. “A special team, led by the district medical officer will visit the areas in Cherunniyoor and Parippally Medical College,” she said, adding that steps would be taken to strengthen guard in the area and destroy the ticks.
What is Scrub Typhus?
Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a disease caused by a bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi. Scrub typhus is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites). The most common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rash. Most cases of scrub typhus occur in rural areas of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, China, Japan, India, and northern Australia. Anyone living in or traveling to areas where scrub typhus is found could get infected. These germs are mainly found in carnivorous animals such as rats, antelopes and rabbits. But it does not cause disease in animals. Chigger mites, the larval stage of small insect mites, transmit the disease from animal to human.