KATHMANDU, September 4: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged one and all to remain alert of scrub typhus which has symptoms similar to those of COVID-19. The ministry said quite a few cases of scrub typhus have been reported in the country in recent times. 

Joint Spokesperson for the ministry, Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari said that scrub typhus, a disease with symptoms similar to those of COVID-19, has started appearing recently. Scrub typhus, like COVID-19, causes high fever, reddening of the eyes, cough, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, severe headaches, joint and muscle aches and sometimes black spots on the bite site. 

Scrub typhus ‘Orinsia susugamasi’ is a disease transmitted to humans by the bite of a small tick that is infected with the bacterium. According to Dr Adhikari, scrub typhus can cause infections to the brain, liver, lungs and sometimes lead to multiple-organ dysfunction. 

The ministry has requested everyone to test for scrub typhus even in case of negative results while testing COVID-19. 

Dr Adhikari said that the disease can be cured if it is diagnosed and treated on time. He also suggests wearing long-sleeve clothes and suitable shoes while going to the fields, bush or forest and to apply medicated ointment on the exposed part of the body to avoid tick bites.

(With Inputs from RSS)

 
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