Ghaziabad: The district has reported three scrub typhus cases this year after recording no infections in 2024 and 2025, health officials said. Cases were detected in Patla in Muradnagar, Anil Vihar in Khoda and Khoda Colony. The district had reported 39 cases in 2021, four in 2022 and 15 in 2023.Officials said they have intensified surveillance through the district’s network of urban and rural health units and ASHA and ANM workers.“Surveillance is being carried out in urban areas through 177 health units and in rural areas through 125 health units, with ASHA and ANM workers also involved in disease surveillance. Rapid-response teams have also been constituted at medical facilities to respond to suspected infectious disease cases. Regular training is given to ASHA workers to spread knowledge about the disease so that residents can focus on prevention and precautions,” said RK Gupta, district surveillance officer.Scrub typhus is caused by the bacterium orientia tsutsugamushi and spreads to humans through the bite of infected mite larvae, commonly known as chiggers. The germs are associated with rodents and can be transmitted when people come into contact with areas where infected mites are present.“The symptoms can include fever lasting five to seven days, body ache, headache, joint pain, red rashes and a sore or ulcer at the site of the mite bite. In some patients, the infection can progress to coughing, breathing difficulty, bleeding, fainting or loss of consciousness. Swelling of glands and enlargement of the liver and spleen may also occur,” Gupta said.Doctors advise people with persistent fever to seek medical attention and undergo blood tests. “The infection can be treated with antibiotics when diagnosed in time. Testing and treatment facilities for infectious diseases are available through govt health facilities,” said a senior doctor at the district govt hospital.A senior health official added, “People are advised to control rat populations, avoid accumulation of garbage, keep bushes and weeds around homes under control and take precautions after visiting fields, forests or other bushy areas. Wearing closed footwear while walking through fields and maintaining proper sanitation can also reduce the risk.”
