A middle-aged woman reportedly died with symptoms of scrub typhus at a private hospital in Vizianagaram district. She was from Mettapalli village in Cheepurupalli mandal. The disease is caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi and spreads through bites of infected larval mites.
Health Commissioner G Veerapandian said the Rapid Diagnostic Kit used for testing cannot confirm whether the death was due to scrub typhus, as the ELISA test was not done. A rapid response team has been asked to investigate.
He said reports of a surge in cases are inaccurate and that the situation is not alarming. Of the 6,778 samples tested across the state so far this year, 1,346 were positive. In 2024, 1,613 of 10,150 samples tested positive, and in 2023, 1,295 of 7,281 samples.
Chittoor has reported the highest number of infections this year at 384, followed by Kakinada with 146, Visakhapatnam 124 and YSR Kadapa 97.
In Visakhapatnam, 19 of 210 samples tested in November were positive. Three patients admitted to King George Hospital are stable and expected to be discharged soon, Superintendent I Vani said. Dr D Radhakrishnan said fever, body pain, rash, a scab-like lesion and swollen lymph nodes are common symptoms, and the rise in detected cases is due to increased testing. He said most patients respond well to doxycycline, fatalities are rare, and those with suppressed immunity or co-morbidities are more vulnerable.
Early treatment with antibiotics such as doxycycline, or azithromycin for pregnant women, is crucial to prevent complications affecting the lungs, liver, kidneys or central nervous system. Health authorities advise avoiding overgrown vegetation, wearing protective clothing and using repellents to reduce exposure to mite bites.
(With inputs from K Srinivasa Rao in Vizianagaram)
Published – December 01, 2025 09:49 pm IST
