Chennai: A 20-year-old Anna University student residing in a campus hostel died of scrub typhus on Friday despite treatment at two govt hospitals, the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) said.Scrub typhus is an acute zoonotic illness caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted through bites from infected mites (chiggers). The student, Harish, was admitted to Kalaignar Centenary Hospital on Sept 17 after suffering from high fever for four days. He was later referred to Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.Kilpauk hospital dean Dr M Kavitha said Harish was brought in with fever and altered sensorium at 12.35am on Thursday and died around 2.35am. “He tested negative for dengue but was positive for scrub typhus. Complications of the disease led to respiratory distress, multi-organ failure and death,” she said.Director of public health Dr A Somasundram said no other student has died from scrub typhus infection on the Anna University (AU) campus so far. However, a PG student was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital with fever on Saturday. He tested positive for dengue and had a low platelet count, the hospital said. Doctors said the patient’s condition remained stable and that he was responding to treatment.Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) held a medical camp on the campus and screened more than 160 students over the past two days. GCC health officials said fever camps will continue for the next few days.Zonal health officers and sanitary inspectors have been deployed for surveillance and follow-up action. Around 100 workers are engaged in sanitation activities on the campus, including clearing accumulated garbage and carrying out mosquito-control measures.On Saturday, GCC commissioner G S Sameeran inspected the work. “A few fever cases were found in the hostel during screening, but none of them were alarming,” he said. The university registrar has also been directed to ensure the immediate removal of bushes and discarded materials where rainwater could stagnate.
