Odisha: Agriculture secretary Arabinda Padhee diagnosed with scrub typhus

By C. R. Beura

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 4: Odisha government’s agriculture and farmers’ empowerment secretary Arabinda Padhee has tested positive for scrub typhus.

Padhee had got himself tested after developing symptoms two days ago and the result returned positive for scrub typhus. Padhee’s condition is said to be stable and he is currently undergoing treatment at home.

Health department sources said Padhee was diagnosed with scrub typhus at early stage.

Scrub typhus which was confined to a few districts of Odisha such as Baragarh, Sambalpur and Sundergarh, has now spread to other parts of the state as well.

The number of scrub typhus cases in the state has crossed 2,820. The state government is now focusing on increasing testing and early testing and providing necessary treatment. Earlier, a central team had visited several parts of Odisha to examine the increase of scrub typhus cases in the state.

Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a disease caused by bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi. The disease spreads among people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites).