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Scrub Typhus Disease - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention | UPSC Science & Tech Current Affairs 2026 Why in News? Scrub Typhus cases rising in India! After Ghaziabad (3 cases), Chennai reports 173 cases and 1 death of 20-year-old Anna University student (Harish Kumar) in Sept 2026. Sundargarh, Odisha reports 910+ cases. Health Dept issues alert. Important for UPSC Prelims GS3 & Mains. What is Scrub Typhus? - Also known as Bush Typhus Scrub Typhus is a vector-borne BACTERIAL disease, not viral! It is caused by bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi. It belongs to Rickettsial disease group. How it Spreads? It spreads to humans through bite of infected LARVAL MITES called Chiggers (Trombiculid mites). Mites are extremely small. Bite is painless, many don't notice. Chiggers live in overgrown grass, bushes, leaf litter, gardens, damp corners, rodent habitats. 2026 CMC Vellore Study (32,000 people) found: Now infections happening MORE around HOMES - in gardens, courtyards, not just fields! Symptoms - Know for UPSC: - High Fever for 5-7 days (Acute Febrile Illness) - Headache, Bodyache, Joint Pain - Red Skin Rashes - Eschar - Black scab-like sore/ulcer at bite site (Key diagnostic sign) - Swollen Lymph Nodes - Severe cases: Organ failure, bleeding, Lung infection (ARDS), can be fatal if untreated. Geography: Found in "Tsutsugamushi Triangle" - South & SE Asia, Indonesia, China, Japan, India, N. Australia. Monsoon season peak. Treatment & Prevention: - Treatment: Antibiotic DOXYCYCLINE - drug of choice, effective at any age if given early. - No vaccine available yet. - Prevention: Avoid dense vegetation, wear full clothes, use insect repellent, keep surroundings clean, control rodents, clear garden waste. UPSC PYQ Angle: Difference between Dengue (mosquito-borne) vs Scrub Typhus (mite-borne). Eschar is unique feature. What is being done? - Door-to-door surveillance by ASHA & ANM workers - Vector control, fogging, cleaning of educational institutions (GCC Chennai covered 1635 institutions) - ELISA test for confirmation Vajirao & Reddy Institute - India's Top Potential Training Institute for IAS brings you daily Science & Tech Current Affairs for UPSC 2026. Stay safe & Subscribe for more! #ScrubTyphus #BushTyphus #OrientiaTsutsugamushi #ChiggerBite #Eschar #Doxycycline #VectorBorneDisease #TsutsugamushiTriangle #Ghaziabad #Chennai #AnnaUniversity #Sundargarh #RickettsialDisease #AcuteFebrileIllness #UPSC #UPSC2026 #ScienceAndTechnology #GS3 #CurrentAffairs #VajiraoAndReddy #Prevention #HealthAlert #MonsoonDisease #UPSCPre