Opinion | Kathmandu’s indoor scrub typhus outbreak
Summary
Kathmandu is facing a significant outbreak of scrub typhus, an infectious disease transmitted by chigger mites, with increasing co-infections alongside dengue virus. Many cases suggest indoor transmission linked to rodent presence.
Key Points
- Kathmandu is currently experiencing one of its largest scrub typhus outbreaks, with multiple cases detected daily.
- Scrub typhus is transmitted through bites from infected chigger mites, with rodents as key hosts, commonly present in Kathmandu households.
- Symptoms include high-grade fever, headache, red eyes, nausea, shortness of breath, and a distinctive black scab called eschar.
- There is an increasing trend of co-infection with dengue virus in Kathmandu, potentially leading to more severe disease, though severe cases have not yet risen significantly.
