Scrub typhus has topped dengue in Nepal this year
Summary
Scrub typhus has become Nepal's leading vector-borne disease this year, surpassing dengue with over 16,000 infections reported in the 2024-25 fiscal year, posing significant public health challenges across multiple provinces.
Key Points
- Scrub typhus has become Nepal's top vector-borne disease of 2024, surpassing dengue in morbidity.
- Over 16,597 scrub typhus cases were recorded nationwide in fiscal year 2024-25, with Lumbini Province having the highest incidence.
- The disease spread was notably severe after the 2015 earthquake, highlighting public health vulnerabilities.
- There is no vaccine, but antibiotics like doxycycline and azithromycin are effective treatments, although diagnosis is often delayed due to lack of testing and awareness.
