The Investigation of Scrub Typhus Cluster in Sandimen, Pingtung County, Taiwan, 2017

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.201804_34(7).0001

Hsin-Fan Chien^＊, Yu-Zhu Wang, Hsin-Chun Lee,Chiou-Yueh You, Chao-Ching Chang

2018 Vol.34 NO.7

Correspondence Author： Hsin-Fan Chien^＊

Abstract：

This first indigenous scrub typhus cluster from Pingtung County occurred in January 2017 and  related to traveling in Sandimen Township. The index case was confirmed on 9^th February. The investigation, initiated by local health authority and coordinated by Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, revealed that traveling to the mountain in Sandimen Township was associated with this cluster. A total of 19 companions traveled to Sandimen on January 16. Among them, 6 cases had symptoms; 5 of the 6 cases were confirmed as having scrub typhus after laboratory examination, except for the index case, and 1 had been infected in the past. The infection source might be mountain traveling. Scrub typhus clusters associated with traveling in Pingtung County were rare. Moreover, this cluster occurred earlier than the endemic period in recent years. The most important control measure on scrub typhus is the awareness and self-protection of scrub typhus infection. We recommended that public health authorities enhancing health education for communities in aboriginal areas.