The post Nepalis Now Threatened by Scrub Typhus, Province 5,3 Most Hit appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>A total of 695 persons have been tested positive for Scrub Typhus in 63 districts of Nepal over a period of two months – August- September, 2019.
According to an update from the Nepal Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, three persons died from the scrub typhus illness caused by larva of trombiculid mites or ‘chigger’ as of September 2019.
Among the 63 districts, Dhading is the most affected with 74 scrub typhus cases so far.
In terms of states, Province 5 is the most hit with a total of 237 scrub typhus cases. This is followed by Province 3 which has 204 affected persons.
Likewise, Province 2, Province 1 and Karnali Province have recorded 22, 18 and 8, respectively.
The Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku alone has reported 32 scrub typhus cases since mid-April 2019.
“Cases of the scrub virus have been reportedly increased in various parts of the country,” said Dr. Anup Bastola, Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital.
Precautions to Be Taken
Doctors have provided some suggestions to people to control the spread of the disease:
- Maintain caution around bushes infected with the mites, fields, forest clearings and grassy places
- Wear long clothes that cover the entire body
- Avoid dense areas of scrub vegetation since the mites are mainly found there
The scrub typhus mites are very small and cannot be seen in normal view. Doctors say that the larva stage of scrub typhus is the only stage when the illness is transmitted to rats or mites and humans. However, it is not directly transferable from person to person.
To check if you are infected with the scrub typhus disease, look for the following symptoms:
- Body aches
- Dark scab-like regions in the bitten area
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Fever
- Headache
- Mental changes
- Muscle pain
- Rashes
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]]>The post Nepal Health Alert! Scrub Typhus on the Rise appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>According to the Nepal Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (NEDCD) as many as 105 scrub typhus cases have been reported in a matter of 60 days.
What is more shocking is that these numbers are higher than the total number of cases recorded throughout 2017 – 168 cases!
Nepal Scrub Typhus Statistics:
- Nepal first reported Scrub Typhus cases in 2015, wherein 101 people from 16 districts were tested positive with the virus. Out of these, eight people could not survive the endemic
- In 2016, 831 people from 16 districts were identified with the disease, out of which 14 people died from its after-effects
- Currently, Chitwan district has recorded 20 cases, Nawalparsi 14 and Palpa 10
- Nearly 140,000 people from the Asia-Pacific region succumb to Scrub Typhus, annually
Stay Alert!
Scrub Typhus is caused by the bacteria Orientia Tsutsugamushi which is transmitted from Chigger, a tropical flea. It is encountered in high grass & brushlands and is famous as a harvest mite.
After people are bitten by this mite, they develop symptoms including fever, headache, sweating and inflammation of the lymph gland.
If left untreated, the disease may lead to brain encephalitis, swelling of lungs, renal failure and even heart issues.
Conclusion:
We hope that Nepal’s health sector gets the much-needed assistance in getting this endemic under control. Stay Safe Nepal!
The post Nepal Health Alert! Scrub Typhus on the Rise appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
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