The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday urged people to remain alert against scrub typhus, especially those traveling to rural areas during the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday.
The nation usually experiences a jump in scrub typhus cases in April and May, with cases peaking in June and July, the CDC said.
It has recorded 16 cases this year, mostly in eastern Taiwan, which is fewer than those seen during the same period over the past two years, when 40 to 50 cases were recorded.
Photo: CNA
CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) at a news conference provided recommendations on how to avoid the disease.
The disease is caused by trombiculid mites, which hide in the grass and bushes, and attach themselves to humans or animals, Lin said.
However, the mites do not bite their hosts within 12 to 20 hours of attachment, he said, adding that people who have visited high-risk areas should shower and change clothes once they return home to ensure they do not contract the disease.
Lin said people should also wear trousers and long-sleeved shirts, and use bug repellent to avoid picking up mites.
The disease has an incubation period of nine to 12 days, Lin said, adding that parasite-carrying mites leave a scar at the bite site.
Initial symptoms include a high fever, headache and enlarged lymph nodes, and are followed by a maculopapular rash about a week later, he added.
People with symptoms should seek medical attention immediately, as, if left untreated, the disease has a fatality rate of 60 percent, due to pneumonia or organ failure, he added.
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