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. 2019 Jun;25(6):1214-1217.
doi: 10.3201/eid2506.181860. Epub 2019 Jun 17.

Scrub Typhus in Continental Chile, 2016-20181

Thomas Weitzel, Constanza Martínez-Valdebenito, Gerardo Acosta-Jamett, Ju Jiang, Allen L Richards, Katia Abarca

Scrub Typhus in Continental Chile, 2016-20181

Thomas Weitzel et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Endemic scrub typhus was recently detected on Chiloé Island in southern Chile. We report a series of cases, acquired over a wide geographical range in continental Chile during 2016-2018, demonstrating that this emerging rickettsial infection is also found on the mainland of South America.

Keywords: Chile; Orientia species; South America; bacteria; epidemiology; rickettsia; scrub typhus; vector-borne infections; zoonoses.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Locations of probable exposures (red circles) of 9 scrub typhus patients in continental Chile, 2016–2018. Inset map shows the study area (red box) and the location of Chile (gray shading) within South America.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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