scrub typhus

noun

: an acute febrile bacterial disease that is caused by a rickettsia (Orientia tsutsugamushi synonym Rickettsia tsutsugamushi) transmitted by mite larvae, resembles typhus transmitted by lice, and is widespread in the western Pacific area

called also tsutsugamushi disease

Examples of scrub typhus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Keralan sanitation workers were beset with scrub typhus, and murine typhus had infiltrated Los Angeles City Hall. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's magazine, 10 Apr. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

scrub typhus

noun

: an acute febrile disease that is caused by a rickettsial bacterium (Orientia tsutsugamushi synonym Rickettsia tsutsugamushi) transmitted by mite larvae, resembles louse-borne typhus, and is widespread in the western Pacific area

called also tsutsugamushi, tsutsugamushi disease