As focus on Scrub Typhus increases in Andhra Pradesh, it has come to light that two women, one a 20-year-old and another a 64-year-old, from Palnadu district died after testing positive for the disease in November.
M. Jyothi, aged 20, from Muppalla mandal had at first presented with the symptoms of fever and diarrhoea and went to a private hospital for treatment. With no improvement in her condition, she got admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS-Mangalagiri) on October 24 and died on November 1. The second woman, Nagamma, aged 64, from Rajupalem mandal was taking treatment for fever at Sattenapalle Area Hospital and was then referred to the Guntur Government General Hospital (GGH). She died on November 16.
Palnadu District Medical and Health Officer B. Ravi said while it is true that they tested positive for Scrub Typhus, it is not yet confirmed if they died because of it. “We are in the process of finding out the causes and if they had any co-morbidities. Nagamma had some liver-related issues. We have formed Rapid Response Teams teams from the GGH-Guntur to investigate their deaths,” Dr. Ravi said.
He added that the teams would look at the medical records, visit the families and examine the conditions they were living in. Dr. Ravi said while Jyothi’s family members are goat herders, Nagamma was an agricultural worker.
Pointing out that Palnadu district does not report many cases of Scrub Typhus, Dr. Ravi said this is a common fever and there is no need to be worried about it. This year, till November 30, the district reported 11 cases.
According to information from the Department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, the infection, spread to humans through bites of larval mites, is seen mainly in areas where rats are active. People living near dense vegetation or agricultural fields are more likely to be affected. These insects mostly bite humans during night-time.
Keeping surroundings clean, wearing shoes while going to agricultural fields, cleaning mats, mattresses and pillows once a week, ensuring that rats do not enter living areas, using blankes while sleeping on floor are some of the preventive measures one can take to stay safe.
Published – December 03, 2025 08:30 pm IST
