Preventive measures for scrub typhus stressed
Source: The Sangai Express

Bishnupur, October 09 2018: Concerned with cases of scrub typhus reported in Bishnupur district, an awareness programme to counter such cases was held at Loktak Maru community hall, Phubala today.

Speaking at the event as resource persons, District Surveillance Officer Dr Laishram Raichandra Singh and Epidemiologist District Surveillance Unit Bishnupur Dr RK Debluxmi Devi highlighted the important measures that should be taken up to avoid scrub typhus.

Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a disease caused by a bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi.

Scrub typhus is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites).

The most common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rash.

So far there have been 13 cases in Bishnupur district since April 2018 .

Speaking at the awareness programme, Dr L Raichandra said that the bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi is not visible to naked eye and their bite cause little to no pain.

Due to this, most persons who are bitten by the bacteria went on unnoticed of the encounter, he said.

According to Dr L Raichandra, rashes will appear within 24 hours after the bacteria entered a person.

Within 10 days a dark, scab like region at the site of the chigger bite (also known as eschar) will appear, he said.

However eschar may not appear in 40 % of the cases, he said.

After 10 days, affected person may show symptoms like - rashes on belly, back, headache, shivering, fever, bloodshot eye/red eye, swelling etc., he pointed out.

He advised persons who encounter such symptoms to consult doctors and conduct necessary test for diagnosis.

Such tests are available at RIMS, JNIMS and Babina, he said.

"This disease does not spread from person to person.

This disease can be cured by administering dosage of simple tetracycline tablets with some other drugs.

Early diagnosis is important.

If affected person goes on without proper early treatment, it can be dangerous," Raichandra said.

On preventive measures, he advised people to dress well and properly to avoid contact with the bacteria when washing clothes and entering bushes/grassy places.

He advised all to use ointment when entering bushes.

"We should sit on mat, thick clothes when sitting on grassy field/grounds.

We should clean our surroundings, wash our hands properly after handling pet animals," he said.

Thinungei Zilla Parishad member Oinam Joychandra Singh, Pradhan Phubala Gram Panchayat N Ranjit Singh, retired OC Manipur police Ksh Binoy Singh and members of Phubala GP attended the programme organised by Phubala Gram Panchayat, Medical Department, NGOs and Meira Paibi Lups as dignitaries.

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