Context: 

A 75-year-old man from Kerala, who recently travelled to Vietnam and Cambodia, was diagnosed with the bacterial disease murine typhus. 

More on the News

• After considering his travel history, doctors identified the disease, using advanced diagnostic methods such as Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), which uses microbial DNA.
• This marks the first reported case of the rare bacterial disease in Kerala. 

About Murine Typhus

• Murine typhus, also known as endemic typhus or flea-borne spotted fever, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia typhi. 
• It is transmitted to humans through infected flea bites.
• Rodents such as rats, mice, and mongooses are common reservoirs of the disease. Infected fleas can also live on other small mammals, including household pets like cats and dogs.
• Murine typhus is commonly reported in tropical and subtropical coastal regions where rats are prevalent. 
• In India, cases have been reported in regions like the Northeast, Madhya Pradesh, and Kashmir. 

Transmission:

• The primary mode of transmission occurs through bites from infected fleas, which transmit Rickettsia typhi.
• Flea faeces can also infect humans if they come into contact with skin cuts, scrapes, or mucous membranes.
• However, the disease does not spread directly from one person to another or from person to flea.

Symptoms:

• Symptoms of murine typhus typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and include fever, headache, body and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
• While the illness usually resolves within two weeks, untreated cases can lead to complications and prolonged illness lasting for months. 

Treatment & Prevention:

• There is no vaccine currently available against the disease.
• The antibiotic doxycycline is considered effective in therapy, but early diagnosis is vital for treatment.
• However, without timely treatment, the disease could turn severe in one or two weeks, and become fatal in rare cases. 
• As preventive measures, Rodents should be kept away from homes, particularly from kitchens, by properly storing and covering food items.