NAKHON RATCHASIMA, THAILAND – Health officials in northeastern Thailand recorded more than 1,000 scrub typhus infections and two deaths, prompting an urgent national warning to outdoor visitors.
Rising cases of scrub typhus, transmitted by tiny mites, forced the Office for Disease Control 9 in Nakhon Ratchasima to issue a regional alert this week. Officials confirmed 1,066 infections across four provinces in Isaan during the current season.
Multiple provinces under watch
The province of Buri Ram registered 434 cases, while Nakhon Ratchasima reported 327 infections and both deaths, according to the same office. Data collected by the agency between early June and mid-July indicated that rural districts with heavy vegetation faced the greatest exposure.
“The mites are now particularly active,”
said an official from the Office for Disease Control 9.
Elderly residents over 65 years were identified as the most vulnerable group due to lower immunity and frequent agricultural activity.
Medical and prevention advice
Health professionals explained that mite bites tend to occur in the armpits, groin, and waistline, leading to symptoms such as fever, headache, and rash within 10 to 12 days. Without treatment, severe cases may progress to pneumonia or encephalitis.
“After visiting the forest, shower immediately and wash clothing,”
said an expert quoted in the warning.
Doctors in provincial hospitals advised that antibiotic therapy remains effective if started promptly.
“With antibiotics, the disease is curable,”
said a physician interviewed by local media.
Precautions for hikers and farmers
The Public Health Ministry urged travelers and field workers to take the following actions:
- Wear long sleeves and long trousers, tucking pants into socks.
- Apply insect repellent to all uncovered skin before entering grassy or wooded areas.
- Avoid dense undergrowth and tall grass where mites often cluster.
- After excursions, shower and wash clothes in hot water to remove any parasites.
Officials step up field surveillance
Local disease control teams in Buri Ram and Nakhon Ratchasima increased field sampling in rural zones. Inspectors examined vegetation along community forests and farmland borders for mite density levels measured in mites per square meter.
Public advisories were distributed through district offices, and mobile health teams conducted outreach in over 40 communities since the start of the month.
Authorities urged anyone experiencing sudden fever after time in wooded areas to seek immediate medical attention and inform physicians about potential exposure.
These findings reinforce Thailand’s annual effort to limit vector-borne diseases during the rainy period when rural mite activity peaks.