Scrub typhus in Bhutan: a synthesis of data from 2009 to 2014.
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Date
2016-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia
Abstract
Scrub typhus is an acute, febrile illness, caused by the bacterium Orientia
tsutsugamushi, that affects millions annually in the endemic Asia-Pacific region.
In untreated cases, the case-fatality rates range from 6% to 35%. In Bhutan,
there was a probable outbreak in Gedu in 2009, which resulted in heightened
awareness of the disease. Nevertheless, information on scrub typhus in Bhutan is
limited and scattered and the epidemiology has yet to be established. To report the
current picture of scrub typhus in Bhutan, this review gathered data from scholarly
databases, surveillance reports, the Annual health bulletin, research publications
and laboratory test reports from hospitals. The weight of evidence indicates an
increasing burden of scrub typhus since the Gedu incident, coupled with increased
awareness and testing. Another outbreak in a rural primary school in 2014 resulted
in two deaths. More hospitals now have testing facilities and laboratory-confirmed
cases have been increasing since 2009, with seasonal trends. This review
highlights the need for in-depth surveillance and reporting, increased awareness
among health-care workers, and initiation of prevention and control programmes
in the country.
Description
Keywords
Bhutan, Gedu, Orientia tsutsugamushi, scrub typhus
Citation
WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health 2016;5(2): 117-122.