Scrub typhus: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Control in the Asia-Pacific Area and Worldwide

The long term goal of this study is to develop effective measures to control and even eradicate scrub typhus and other related infectious diseases. Scrub typhus is a serious public health problem in the Asia-Pacific area. It threatens one billion people globally, and causes illness in one million people each year. It can cause severe multiorgan failure with a case fatality rate up to 30% without appropriate treatment. The antigenic heterogeneity of Orientia tsutsugamushi results in reinfection with scrub typhus. As a neglected disease, there is still a large gap in our knowledge of the disease, as evidenced by the sporadic epidemiology data and other related public health data regarding scrub typhus in its endemic areas. Our objective is to provide a systematic analysis of current epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of scrub typhus in its endemic area and the rest of the world.

We first described the epidemiology of scrub typhus through a thorough review of the epidemiology and public health impacts of the disease. This specific aim helps us understand the disease, and provides a foundation for disease prevention and control. We then described the diagnosis and treatment of scrub typhus, which will facilitate the development of the next generation of diagnostics and treatment. The last part of the capstone focused on the prevention and control of scrub typhus in the Asia-Pacific region, and worldwide. This analysis will aid in the control of the disease and promotion of public health.

This project helps better understand the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and control of scrub typhus. It can aid in the identification of effective new approaches to prevent and control the endemic disease. The research also provides strategies that could be applicable to combat other infectious diseases and public health threats.