Chennai: The incidence of scrub typhus in Tamil Nadu will continue until January, and if there is a fever, one should go to the hospital immediately, said Public Health Department Director Somasundaram.
At a time when reports emerged that a student of Anna University in Chennai had died of dengue fever, the Health Department denied this and said that the cause of death was scrub typhus, known as “scrub typhus.” In this situation, Public Health Department Director Somasundaram has released an awareness video about scrub typhus on social media.
In that video, he said: Tick fever is a fever caused by bacterial germs. This disease spreads through the bite of a type of tick and insect that live in grass that grows as tall as a person, bushes, and open fields. In the past, this disease used to spread only to people who worked in forests and fields.
However, due to climate change and population migration, the disease is now widespread in all areas. In particular, the incidence of this fever is higher from August to January. The public need not be afraid of this fever. Like other fevers, it usually has symptoms such as body aches and loss of appetite.
If you have symptoms of fever, you should consult a nearby doctor without delay. This is what he has said.
In the same video, Madurai Government Medical College Hospital public health physician P.V. Balamurugan said, “When walking through fields and grasslands, one should wear pants, shoes, and a full-sleeved shirt. Like dengue fever, there will be high fever, headache, body fatigue, and dry cough. In particular, someone who had no fever at 4 o’clock may experience a severe fever by around 4:15.”
If spotted in the early stage, tick fever can be cured. If proper treatment is not received, lung damage, brain damage, and heart damage will occur. Even then, treatment will be given. However, when patients with coexisting conditions arrive late, death can occur. Testing for this disease is being carried out in all government hospitals,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, Health Minister Arunraj said, “The cause of the Anna University student’s death was scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus. Like dengue, it causes fever, headache, and vomiting. There will be a scar-like mark at the site of the insect bite. In 2025, 5,142 scrub typhus cases have been reported. So far this year, 4,619 people have been affected.”