[Surveillance of scrub typhus in Taiwan]

Although scrub typhus, a rickettsial exanthematous febrile disease, has designated as a reportable communicable disease in Taiwan since 1955, only Pescadores island, Hualien and Taitung counties had more reported and confirmed cases. Suspected dengue fever and scrub typhus serum specimens sent from the Bureau of Health and health stations to this institute from January 1991 to December 1992 were tested for antibody to scrub typhus by indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFA). The results showed that: 1) there were serologically positive cases in many counties except Hsinchu and Iilan, 2) the disease occurred mostly from July to October, 3) more males than females were infected and their age ranged from 21 to 60 years old with a peak of the twenties and 4) higher incidence rate in children under five years old was observed in Pescadores and Orchid islands. The above data call the attention of people and physicians to be aware of the fact that there were probable scrub typhus cases in every county in Taiwan.