Andhra Pradesh is facing a sharp rise in scrub typhus cases and deaths. Telangana health officials claim the situation in their state remains under control. They advise families to take simple safety steps as holiday travel and outdoor visits increase in December. Scrub typhus is caused by bacteria spread through chigger bites. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, body ache, and a dark scab where bitten. Telangana’s Director of Public Health Ravinder Naik said no special orders came from the Union government yet. But hospitals are ready with medicines, beds, and staff to handle fever cases. Niloufer Hospital Superintendent G. Vijay Kumar said scrub typhus is part of growing rickettsial diseases spread by ticks and mites. It can cause severe illness or death but responds well to antibiotics like doxycycline and azithromycin. Pulmonologist Vyakarnam Nageshwar warned people often visit farms and resorts in winter, raising infection risks. He urged avoidance of bushes, wearing full clothes and shoes, and bathing immediately after outdoor trips. He stressed parents must enforce these precautions strictly on children who play carelessly. Delayed medical care adds to risks. Any fever with rash, itching, or sores after travel needs quick doctor visits. These easy steps could prevent nearly 90% of scrub typhus cases, doctors say.