Acute-febrile-illness surveillance from 2017-2020 identified 75 scrub-typhus cases: 39 confirmed and 36 probable. Prevalence was 6.9% in Tak versus 1.3% in Nakhon Phanom, while discharge diagnoses matched the study classification only 15% of the time. About one-quarter had coinfections. In Tak, recent forest visits and farm-animal contact were associated with 4.2- and 4.5-fold higher positivity.
Key findings
- Prevalence was 6.9% in Tak and 1.3% in Nakhon Phanom. • Only 15% of discharge diagnoses matched the study case designation. • Forest visits and farm-animal contact were important risk signals in Tak.
Why this matters globally
The findings highlight likely underdiagnosis in border settings and support improved diagnostics, antibiotic management and locally targeted prevention.
Thai researcher contribution
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, Mae Sot Hospital, Nakhon Phanom University and Bamrasnaradura Institute enabled surveillance across two border regions.
Limitations to consider
The data cover two provinces in 2017-2020; some classifications relied on serology and symptoms, and results may not represent current nationwide burden.