'Fever, Chills, Muscle Pain' Was Not a Cold... 'This Disease' Surged to 459 Cases

"Beware of Tick Bites"
Tsutsugamushi Disease Cases Increase Eightfold in 3 Weeks
Characteristic Black Scab at Bite Site
Visit Medical Facility Promptly if Symptoms Suspected

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has urged people to be especially cautious during outdoor activities. This is due to an eightfold increase in scrub typhus cases over the past three weeks, caused by bites from larval Trombiculid mites.

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency

According to the KDCA on the 8th, the density index of Trombiculid mites has increased more than threefold over the past three weeks since mid-last month, leading to a rise in the number of patients as well.

The number of scrub typhus patients has surged from 58 during the week of October 13 (week 42) to 264 in the week of October 20?26 (week 43), and further to 459 in the week of October 27?November 2 (week 44).

Scrub typhus is a disease transmitted by larval Trombiculid mites carrying the Orientia tsutsugamushi bacteria. Symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and rash appear within ten days after being bitten. The fatality rate in Korea is approximately 0.1?0.3%. A characteristic black scab forms at the bite site.

Scrub typhus can be treated with antibiotics. If symptoms appear after outdoor activities or mite bites, it is important to promptly visit a medical institution for treatment.

The KDCA warned that more than 50% of actual cases occur in November, so the number of patients may continue to rise for a while. This is because larval Trombiculid mites, which transmit scrub typhus, are actively active from September to November. To prevent bites during outdoor activities, it is advisable to use a mat when sitting on grass and avoid leaving clothes in grassy areas, among other preventive measures.