AUGUST 21, 2023

Scrub Typhus Outbreak Reported in Chile

By Ethan Covey

An outbreak of scrub typhus, which occurred in southern Chile earlier this year, resulted in a nearly 450% increase over the mean number of cases reported during the preceding eight years.

Scrub typhus is a bacterial disease caused by Orientia species and transmitted by infected chigger bites (MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72[27]:753-754).

“It is most important to recognize that the infection might be more prevalent than expected,” said Constanza