Outbreak of scrub typhus in western part of India: containment and lessons learnt

Barun Bhai Patel; Pranaya Gurmeet; Vipul Dutt; Harpreet Singh; Amit Sharma; Vivek Gupta; Kapil H. Pandya; Ganesh Madne; Indrakhi Bhattacharya; Paridhi Gupta

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20231270

Authors

Barun Bhai Patel Department of Community Medicine, AFMS, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Pranaya Gurmeet Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, AFMS, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Vipul Dutt Department of Community Medicine, AFMS, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Harpreet Singh Department of Community Medicine, AFMS, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Amit Sharma Department of Anaesthetics, AFMS, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Vivek Gupta Department of Community Medicine, AFMS, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Kapil H. Pandya Department of Community Medicine, AFMS, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Ganesh Madne Department of Community Medicine, AFMS, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Indrakhi Bhattacharya Department of Community Medicine, AFMS, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Paridhi Gupta Department of Anaesthetics, AFMS, Pune, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20231270

Keywords:

Outbreak, Scrub typhus, Chemoprophylaxis, Personal protection

Abstract

Background: Scrub typhus is one of the most covert diseases of present era. Diagnosis is often missed, and tools for confirming diagnosis are often not available in resource-poor setups. The aim of the study was to investigate an outbreak investigation and suggests methods of containment.

Methods: An epidemiological investigation of Scrub typhus outbreak though active and passive surveillance. Time, Place and person distribution, mean, median stand deviation were used during analysis.

Results: Cases presented with high grade fever (100%), bodyache (91%) and headache (81%). Nearly, 22% cases presented with Eschar, 16% of blood samples were positive for OX-19 antigens, 9% blood samples were sent for enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and were positive for IgM antibodies.

Conclusions: An outbreak of Scrub Typhus infection was successfully contained without any mortality by effectively using Chemoprophylaxis, judicial use of chemicals and personal protective measures.

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