Kaohsiung City has reported its first fatal case of “scrub typhus” in three years. The Kaohsiung City Health Bureau pointed out that the larvae of scrub typhus ticks often hide in grass, waiting to bite passing animals or humans. Typically, the bitten area will develop a scab, with an incubation period of 9 to 12 days. Without prompt and proper treatment, the fatality rate can be as high as 60%.
Many people are unaware that tick bites can also be life-threatening. A 67-year-old man from Kaohsiung who frequently hiked on Shoushan Mountain may have been bitten by a tick while climbing the mountain on the 28th of last month. After returning home, he developed symptoms such as fever and convulsions, and passed away just under ten days later on the 5th of this month. Tsai Wu-hsiung, director of the Kaohsiung City Disease Control Bureau, said that scrub typhus is contracted through tick bites, with rodents being the primary animal hosts. The larvae of these ticks stay in grassy areas, waiting to bite passing animals or humans. “If you’re going hiking or into the wild, try to wear long sleeves, long pants, long shoes, and long socks to avoid being bitten. Also, when you go to Shoushan, stick to the commonly used paths—since those areas are frequented by people, rodents tend not to come around.”
Director Tsai Wu-hsiung explained that the bitten area usually becomes itchy initially, and many people might mistake it for a mosquito bite. However, the area will later develop a scab, with an incubation period of 8 to 9 days, up to 12 days or even half a month. Clinical symptoms include fever, headache, night sweats, and swollen lymph nodes. A red rash may appear on the skin after about a week. Without prompt and appropriate treatment, the fatality rate can reach up to 60%. The months from April and May to December are the peak season for tick activity. The public is advised to apply mosquito repellent approved by the health authorities when hiking to avoid bites from both mosquitoes and ticks. It’s also recommended to shower and change clothes immediately upon returning home to reduce the risk of infection.
(China Broadcasting Corporation)