Districts asked to intensify surveillance against Scrub Typhus and Leptospirosis

Bhubaneswar: With emerging cases of Scrub Typhus and Leptospirosis diseases, Health and Family Welfare department directed chief district medical and public health officers of all the districts including the Directors of capital hospital and Rourkela Government hospital to intensify surveillance for early diagnosis, treatment, prevention and management of the disease.

The districts were directed to ensure the following in their respective areas.
 Availability of test facilities in district public health units by procurement and supply of required test kits.
 Sensitize Doctors to advise for this test in the cases of pyrexia of unknown origin.
 Increase public awareness and early diagnosis
 Increase surveillance for Scrub typhus and Leptospirosis
 Use of appropriate antibiotics and keep adequate stock of drugs
 All deaths due to this disease should be investigated and necessary containment measures taken.
 Data pertaining to such diseases should be shared to State surveillance unit regularly in the prescribed format.
It may be pertinent here to mention that scrub typhus is caused by bacteria named Orientia tsutsugamushi. The general symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rash. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of certain kinds of trombiculid mites and chiggers in their larval stage. Leptospirosis is also a bacterial disease. Its symptoms may include high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea etc.
Medicines are available for these diseases.

Proper surveillance, carefulness, timely testing and treatment under direct guidance of the doctors will help in containment, management, and cure. Detailed guideline with CD and other materials were sent to the districts yesterday by the Director Public Health, Odisha.