Quick access to main page (top) Direct access to main contents Quick access to main page (bottom)

Surge in Scrub Typhus Cases Sparks Concern: KDCA Issues Caution

wikitree Views  

Twice the Level Compared to 2019
Caution Against Mites During Outdoor Activities

As the weather gets warmer, an unexpected infectious disease is spreading.

People resting on grass. Image to aid understanding of the article / Sunny studio-Shutterstock.com
 

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) warned on the 18th that scrub typhus, also known as tsutsugamushi disease, is already rampant this year.

According to the KDCA, 302 cases of scrub typhus were reported from January to the 6th of this month, double the 182 cases reported during the same period in 2019.

Scrub typhus is an acute febrile disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. It is transmitted through the bite of chiggers (larval mites) infected with the bacteria.

It is typically contracted during the fall when the weather cools down after a hot, humid summer, and outdoor activities increase, making it one of the three major infectious diseases of the fall season.

The main symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, chills, and skin rashes. A characteristic feature is the presence of an eschar at the site where the mite is attached to the skin. Due to a maximum incubation period of three weeks, many cases are detected late. In severe cases, it can cause vascular obstruction or bleeding and lead to complications in the brain or digestive system, which can be fatal.

On average, 4,000 to 6,000 patients are reported annually in Korea, with most cases occurring between late summer and early fall.

The chiggers that cause scrub typhus / Provided by the KDCA – Yonhap News
 

However, this year, cases of scrub typhus have been popping up since spring.

The KDCA explained that this is due to the recent weather, about 10 degrees warmer than average, increasing the mites’ activity, the infection’s vectors.

As mites live on rodents or in grassy areas and attach to human bodies to suck body fluids and transmit bacteria, caution is required during outdoor activities to avoid contracting scrub typhus.

It’s best to avoid sitting directly on grass without a mat and wearing revealing clothing during hiking or camping. To minimize skin exposure, wear long-sleeved tops and long pants. Using insect repellent can also help prevent scrub typhus infection.

The KDCA, noting the surge in scrub typhus cases, urged, “Please be careful not to get bitten by mites during outdoor activities,” and warned that “urinating outdoors can also expose the body, making it a risky behavior.”

They also stressed the need to get into the habit of shaking off your clothes outside before entering the house after outdoor activities.

wikitree
content@viewusglobal.com

Comments0

300

Comments0

[ASIA] Latest Stories

  • North Korea Buried in April Snow—Experts Warn of Major Crop Damage After Climate Shock
  • North Korea’s Smartest Teens Are Being Dragged Into the Military—Here’s Why
  • North Korea Opens Its First Internet Café—and Kim Jong Un Brings His Daughter
  • Vietnam Cracks Down on Imports to Avoid U.S. Tariff Backlash
  • Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Time Spec Breaks Tsukuba Circuit Record, Cementing EV Performance Legacy
  • North Korea Sends Young Volunteers to Dangerous Jobs Under the Guise of Voluntary Participation

You May Also Like

  • 1
    This Study Says Winter-Conceived Babies May Grow Up Leaner—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Harvard Reveals 7 Easy Chair Exercises That Are Surprisingly Powerful for Seniors

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Spring Is Here, So Why Are You Exhausted and Anxious?

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Why Cancer Risk Soars After a Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis—Even Without Obesity

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Dark Red vs. Bright Red: How to Spot Colon Cancer Early

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Is 'Bad' Cholesterol Messing with Your Brain? New Study Says Yes

    LIFESTYLE&nbsp

  • 2
    New Study Finds Coffee Supercharges Good Gut Bacteria — Even Decaf

    LIFESTYLE&nbsp

  • 3
    Powder, Liquid, or Bar? Here's the Best Protein for Your Fitness Goals

    LIFESTYLE&nbsp

  • 4
    Your Pillow Is 17 Times Dirtier Than a Toilet Seat—the Gross Truth

    LIFESTYLE&nbsp

  • 5
    Your Blood Pressure Could Be a Time Bomb—Here’s What You Need to Know

    LIFESTYLE&nbsp

Must-Reads

  • 1
    This Study Says Winter-Conceived Babies May Grow Up Leaner—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Harvard Reveals 7 Easy Chair Exercises That Are Surprisingly Powerful for Seniors

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Spring Is Here, So Why Are You Exhausted and Anxious?

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Why Cancer Risk Soars After a Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis—Even Without Obesity

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Dark Red vs. Bright Red: How to Spot Colon Cancer Early

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Is 'Bad' Cholesterol Messing with Your Brain? New Study Says Yes

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    New Study Finds Coffee Supercharges Good Gut Bacteria — Even Decaf

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Powder, Liquid, or Bar? Here's the Best Protein for Your Fitness Goals

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Your Pillow Is 17 Times Dirtier Than a Toilet Seat—the Gross Truth

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Your Blood Pressure Could Be a Time Bomb—Here’s What You Need to Know

    LIFESTYLE