A middle-aged woman from Mettapalli village in Cheepurupalli mandal, Vizianagaram district, died with symptoms of scrub typhus at a private hospital. This disease is caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi and spreads through bites from infected larval mites. Health Commissioner G Veerapandian said the Rapid Diagnostic Kit used cannot confirm if the death was due to scrub typhus because the ELISA test was not done. He added a rapid response team is investigating the case. He denied reports of a surge in cases and said the situation is not alarming. So far this year, 6,778 samples were tested statewide with 1,346 positive. In 2024, 1,613 of 10,150 samples tested positive, and in 2023, 1,295 of 7,281 samples were positive. Chittoor district reported the highest number of infections this year with 384 cases, followed by Kakinada (146), Visakhapatnam (124), and YSR Kadapa (97). In Visakhapatnam, 19 of 210 samples tested in November were positive. Three patients in King George Hospital are stable and expected to be discharged soon, said Superintendent I Vani. Dr D Radhakrishnan explained common symptoms as "fever, body pain, rash, a scab-like lesion and swollen lymph nodes." He noted the rise in cases is due to increased testing. "Most patients respond well to doxycycline, fatalities are rare, and those with suppressed immunity or co-morbidities are more vulnerable," he added. Early treatment with antibiotics such as doxycycline, or azithromycin for pregnant women, is important to prevent complications affecting lungs, liver, kidneys, or the central nervous system. Health authorities advise avoiding overgrown vegetation, wearing protective clothes, and using repellents to reduce mite bites. (With inputs from K Srinivasa Rao in Vizianagaram)