CM urges public awareness campaigns as scrub typhus cases rise

With scrub typhus cases increasing across the state, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed health officials to launch aggressive awareness campaigns to educate people about the disease. He emphasized that incidents like the recent death of Chanda Rajeshwari in Vizianagaram district must not be repeated.

In a review meeting with Health Department Principal Secretary Saurabh Gaur at the Secretariat, the CM discussed the case in detail. Officials explained that Rajeshwari contracted the disease after being bitten by a tiny larval mite, known as a "chigger mite." Initially misdiagnosed and treated for typhoid, she was later confirmed positive for scrub typhus through a rapid test.

Health authorities clarified that scrub typhus is not contagious and spreads only through chigger bites. The disease is caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. Its common symptoms include high fever, chills, severe headache, muscle pain, and a dark, scab-like mark at the bite site. Experts stressed that timely treatment with antibiotics is highly effective, but if delayed, the disease can lead to serious complications, including respiratory failure, liver inflammation, and severe kidney damage.

Officials noted that cases have also been reported this year in Chittoor and Kakinada districts. The CM warned that even small insect bites should not be ignored, as they can become fatal if untreated. He urged health authorities to raise awareness about the risks of chigger bites, especially in rural areas, and to ensure early testing and prompt treatment.

People living or working in fields, dense vegetation, or grassy areas are at higher risk of contracting the disease. The CM also stressed the importance of maintaining clean surroundings to prevent exposure to these tiny mites.