Since the Tomb Sweeping Festival is upon us, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) would like to remind the public to take precautions against scrub typhus while cleaning graves or visiting the mountainous area. Some of the prevention measures for scrub typhus include wearing protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and pants, applying insect repellents (containing DEET) to exposed skin to prevent chigger bites when visiting mountainous and bush areas, and showering and changing clothes after visits to high risk areas.

According to Taiwan CDC’s surveillance data, scrub typhus cases are reported throughout the year in Taiwan, which usually begin to increase during April and May and peak in July. Thus far this year, as of March 24, a total of 25 scrub typhus cases have been confirmed, which is lower than that (41) reported during the same period last year. The distribution of scrub typhus cases has covered all counties and cities in Taiwan with the offshore islands of Kinmen and Penghu and the mountainous counties of Hualian and Taitung being the high risk areas. During 2010 and 2013, Lianjiang County, Kinmen County, Penghu County, Taitung County reported comparatively higher scrub typhus incidence (per 100,000 people).

Scrub typhus is a disease that is prevalent in or unique to tropical and subtropical regions and transmitted by chiggers. Rodents are primary hosts for chiggers. Chiggers like to stay at the tips of weeds, waiting for an opportunity to attach to passing humans or animals. Therefore, the chance of becoming infected with scrub typhus is much higher when people walk through bush areas. After being bitten by the chigger, an eschar will form over the bite, and the incubation period usually ranges from 9 to 12 days.   Subsequently, symptoms such as fever, headache, sweating and swelling or inflammation of the lymph gland will begin to develop. After having had fever for about 1 week, a dark red papule will appear in the trunk, spread to extremities, and disappear after several days. If scrub typhus is not treated properly, its mortality rate can be as high as 60%. If symptoms pertaining to scrub typhus develop, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the physician of relevant travel history and exposure history in order to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment.

For any questions or further information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Care Hotline, 1922, or 0800-001922 if calling from a cell phone.