Health authorities in the Terai district of Chitwan have reported 165 scrub typhus cases and 33 dengue fever infections affecting both local residents and others from surrounding areas who have sought treatment there. These numbers represent a rise in scrub typhus notifications and a drop in dengue cases. Read more
Advice for travellers
Scrub typhus is a bacterial disease passed on to humans by mites, or chiggers, that normally live on rats infected with the disease. Most travel-acquired cases occur when travellers camp, hike, or go river rafting in rural areas in endemic countries. Scrub typhus is endemic throughout the Asia-Pacific region and more than a million cases occur annually. There is no vaccine or prevention medication: the best way to avoid scrub typhus is to avoid being bitten by mites. Protective measures include the use of an effective personal insect repellent, wearing protective long clothing, and a thorough end-of-day self-examination after visits to rural areas. Due to the disease’s 5- to 14-day incubation period, travellers may only experience symptoms (fever, headache, malaise, and sometimes nausea, vomiting and a rash) after their trip. Treatment involves taking antibiotics and should begin as quickly as possible. Always see a doctor as soon as possible if you develop a fever after the trip and remember to discuss any recent overseas travel. Read more about rickettsial diseases.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.