Bhubaneswar: The scrub typhus toll in Odisha went up to six following the death of another person which was reported Thursday. The latest scrub typhus death has been reported from Sundargarh district. Earlier, five people from Bargarh district had succumbed to the scrub typhus disease, Health department officials informed.
“Since January, 132 scrub typhus positive cases have been detected in Sundargarh district. However, most of the people affected by the disease have been cured. However, we received a report claiming that a patient allegedly died due to scrub typhus,” informed Kanhu Charan Nayak, chief district medical and public health officer of Sundargarh.
The patient was suffering from various diseases and was under treatment in the ICU for 20 days. So, investigation is in progress to find the exact cause of death, Nayak stated.
The scrub typhus infection spreads when a chigger bites someone. People who frequently visit farmlands or forests are vulnerable to the infection, officials said.
When fever continues for several days, the patient should go through an ELISA test to find out if he/she is suffering from scrub typhus. The test is available at the district public health laboratories in every district. If diagnosed early, the scrub typhus disease can be treated effectively, the officials informed.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government has asked healthcare officials to strengthen the surveillance system for early diagnosis of scrub typhus and leptospirosis.
Director of public health Niranjan Mishra has written to all chief district medical and public health officers and directors of Capital Hospital and Rourkela Government Hospital in this regard.
“Scrub typhus and leptospirosis cases are being reported from most districts. So an intensive surveillance system for early diagnosis is needed to ensure timely treatment,” Mishra said. He asked health officials to ensure adequate availability of test kits and medicines in the district public health laboratories.