MUMBAI: The state has confirmed 16 cases of scrub typhus, a bacterial disease spread by infected mite bites, in three districts: Aurangabad, Jalna, and Buldhana. With several states in India grappling with an outbreak of this disease, the Maharashtra public health department has alerted all districts to increase surveillance.
Officials say most cases have been identified and treated at Dr Hedgewar Rugnalaya, Aurangabad. But there appears to be a discrepancy in the reported numbers. While hospital authorities told TOI they’ve handled nearly 45 cases and one fatality since August, the public health department has only confirmed 16 cases – seven from Jalna, eight from Aurangabad and one from Buldhana. Last year, the state had reported 307 cases.
Several states, including Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan, are currently witnessing a surge in scrub typhus cases. In Odisha, local media reports indicate that the total number of cases has exceeded 200, with five recorded deaths. Himachal Pradesh has reported nearly 370 cases and 11 fatalities, including three men and eight women. Meanwhile, Rajasthan has documented 1,177 cases of scrub typhus this year, with 854 cases reported since August. The state has also reported four deaths in Dholpur, Dausa, Sikar, and Kota.
The majority of patients at the Aurangabad hospital presented with symptoms such as fever, bodyaches, low platelet and white blood cell (WBC) counts, and in severe cases, impaired kidney and liver functions. Dr Sagar Gupta, who heads the medicine department at Hedgewar Rugnalaya, said they confirmed scrub typhus using PCR tests and after ruling out infections such as dengue. “Most patients have a mild infection, but a few severe cases had respiratory complications, altered sensorium and even encephalitis,” he said. The person who succumbed had underlying conditions.
Dr Gajanand Mhaske, district surveillance officer of Jalna, said mites causing scrub typhus are commonly found in rural and forested areas, including grassy fields, dense vegetation, and scrublands, with rare occurrences in urban areas. But, Dr Gupta said, at least five of their cases were from Aurangabad city, including a few individuals employed as carpenters. “There is always a possibility of these mites being present in wooden beds and blankets, which is why we recommend pest control measures,” he said. BMC officials said Mumbai hasn’t recorded any cases this year.
Officials say most cases have been identified and treated at Dr Hedgewar Rugnalaya, Aurangabad. But there appears to be a discrepancy in the reported numbers. While hospital authorities told TOI they’ve handled nearly 45 cases and one fatality since August, the public health department has only confirmed 16 cases – seven from Jalna, eight from Aurangabad and one from Buldhana. Last year, the state had reported 307 cases.
Several states, including Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan, are currently witnessing a surge in scrub typhus cases. In Odisha, local media reports indicate that the total number of cases has exceeded 200, with five recorded deaths. Himachal Pradesh has reported nearly 370 cases and 11 fatalities, including three men and eight women. Meanwhile, Rajasthan has documented 1,177 cases of scrub typhus this year, with 854 cases reported since August. The state has also reported four deaths in Dholpur, Dausa, Sikar, and Kota.
The majority of patients at the Aurangabad hospital presented with symptoms such as fever, bodyaches, low platelet and white blood cell (WBC) counts, and in severe cases, impaired kidney and liver functions. Dr Sagar Gupta, who heads the medicine department at Hedgewar Rugnalaya, said they confirmed scrub typhus using PCR tests and after ruling out infections such as dengue. “Most patients have a mild infection, but a few severe cases had respiratory complications, altered sensorium and even encephalitis,” he said. The person who succumbed had underlying conditions.
Dr Gajanand Mhaske, district surveillance officer of Jalna, said mites causing scrub typhus are commonly found in rural and forested areas, including grassy fields, dense vegetation, and scrublands, with rare occurrences in urban areas. But, Dr Gupta said, at least five of their cases were from Aurangabad city, including a few individuals employed as carpenters. “There is always a possibility of these mites being present in wooden beds and blankets, which is why we recommend pest control measures,” he said. BMC officials said Mumbai hasn’t recorded any cases this year.
