Health Dept on Alert As Nellore Reports 7 Active Scrub Typhus Cases

Nellore: Medical and health officials in the SPSR Nellore district are closely monitoring the situation after seven active scrub typhus cases were detected. Of the seven patients currently undergoing treatment, two are admitted to the Government General Hospital, two at KIMS, one at Narayana General Hospital, one at Jayabharat, and one at People’s Poly Clinic at Nellore.

All patients are responding well to treatment, said Dr S. Bhaskar, District Health Surveillance Officer. He also clarified that the recent death of five-year-old Santhoshi from Siddavaram in Rapur mandal on December 4 was not solely due to scrub typhus. The child had been suffering from serious liver-related complications for the past two months and was under treatment for those conditions.

From January to date, the district has reported 60 scrub typhus cases. Dr Bhaskar noted that the situation is not alarming, pointing out that 63 cases were recorded during the same period last year. Statewide, 1,519 cases have been reported so far this year, compared to 1,630 cases last year.

District medical and health officer Dr Sujatha said that high fever and headache are key symptoms of scrub typhus. The infection can be effectively treated with doxycycline or azithromycin, she said, adding that pregnant women should be treated only with azithromycin. All primary health centers across the district have adequate stocks of these medicines, she assured.