Andhra Pradesh battles scrub typhus outbreak; 8 dead, over 170 infected

India Dec 09, 2025

Andhra Pradesh is dealing with a spike in scrub typhus cases, with 174 people infected and eight deaths so far—most cases are in Visakhapatnam.
The Chief Minister has called for stronger awareness efforts, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where people are more at risk.

What you need to know about scrub typhus

Scrub typhus spreads through bites from tiny infected chiggers, usually found in dense vegetation.
Symptoms can show up within two weeks and include fever, headache, body aches, rash, and sometimes a scab at the bite spot.
There's no vaccine yet—so the CDC suggests using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants outdoors, and avoiding mite-heavy areas to stay safe.