Maldives
Scrub typhus cases have been reported from Seenu atoll and Gaafu DhaaL. No cases
had been recorded in humans on the island since the 1940s. But in 2002, 70 people
contracted the disease out of whom three died (23).
Leptotrombidium deliense chiggers were found in a variety of habitats and
L. acuscutellaris were found only in swamps (24). Outbreaks occur on islands when
predators of rats appear generally to be
absent and rat populations are saturated.
There are innumerable small, sharplydelimited
typhus islands in southern
Maldives where infectious agents, vectors
and suitable rodents exist simultaneously.
Adult villagers come into contact with
chiggers when they visit the islands for wood
collection and agricultural activities.