Odisha Agriculture Secretary Tests Positive for Scrub Typhus as State Battles Outbreak

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Agriculture Secretary, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, has tested positive for Scrub Typhus. His blood sample was sent to Capital Hospital for testing, and the results came back positive today. He is currently receiving treatment at home, and his condition is stable.

Scrub Typhus has become a significant concern in Odisha, affecting almost the entire state, except for a few districts. This infectious disease has not spared urban areas, with people in cities also falling victim to it. The Director of Health, Dr. Niranjan Mishra, reported that out of 22,077 tested individuals, at least 2,820 have been found to be infected with Scrub Typhus in the state.

To address this alarming situation, a team of senior doctors and health experts from the Central Government has visited districts like Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, and Bolangir to assess the Scrub Typhus outbreak. Since 2019, Odisha has been conducting tests to detect the disease, and the visiting team has recommended an increase in daily testing rates.

Additionally, the Central team will soon submit a comprehensive report to the Central Government based on its findings. It’s important to note that several private hospitals in the state are conducting rapid tests for Scrub Typhus. However, according to the Health Director, ELISA testing remains the appropriate method for accurately detecting a Scrub Typhus infection.