Tamil Nadu is seeing a spike in fever-related illnesses amid the current weather, with influenza-like illness and COVID-19 cases reported widely, alongside dengue. Health officials say scrub typhus—also referred to as a mite-borne fever—is now adding to the public health burden.
Scrub typhus is described as a bacterial infection transmitted when infected mites or other parasites bite humans. Officials said symptoms can include fever, headache, fatigue and skin rashes, and a small red swelling may appear at the bite site.
According to the public health department, more than 3,000 people have been affected so far this year, with cases reported from districts including Chennai, Coimbatore and Tiruvannamalai.
Officials warned that delaying diagnosis and treatment can lead to complications, including blood clotting at the bite site and serious internal organ involvement, which may progress to coma or death. They cited the recent death of an Anna University student, noting the campus has large areas with dense shrub growth.
The department advised residents to clear thorny bushes around homes and keep surroundings clean. People visiting shrub-covered areas or forest regions were urged to take precautions so insects and parasites do not come into contact with the body, and to seek medical attention if symptoms develop after a bite.
