Central News (Central News Agency Reporter Shen Peiyao Taipei, July 3rd) With the summer vacation travel season arriving, beware of scrub typhus mites when enjoying outdoor activities. The CDC statistics show that as of July 1st this year, there have been a cumulative 104 confirmed cases of scrub typhus, the highest in nearly four years. The agency urges the public to take personal double protection measures, wear long-sleeved clothing, and use insect repellent. According to the official website of the Taiwan CDC (Centers for Disease Control), scrub typhus is transmitted by the bite of mites carrying Orientia tsutsugamushi. These mites inhabit grassy areas and wait for opportunities to attach to passing humans or animals. The incubation period for scrub typhus is about 9 to 12 days. Patients will experience persistent high fever, headache, and swollen lymph nodes. About a week after the fever begins, a red maculopapular rash appears on the skin. An eschar, a characteristic feature of the disease, is usually found at the site of the mite bite. The CDC issued a press release today reminding the public that monitoring data shows a cumulative 104 confirmed cases of scrub typhus as of July 1st this year, which is higher than the same period from 2023 to 2025 (ranging between 71 and 92 cases). Although cases of scrub typhus occur throughout the year, Zeng Shuhui, spokesperson for the CDC, explained that the peak season is mainly in the summer. Historically, the number of reported cases begins to rise from April to May, peaks in June and July, and a second wave of outbreaks occurs in September and October. A higher number of infections are reported in the eastern and outlying island regions. Of the 104 cases reported so far this year, Zeng Shuhui pointed out that the top three regions are Taitung with 32 cases, Kinmen with 25 cases, and Hualien with 16 cases. There is indeed an increasing trend in the number of cases. Summer vacation has begun, and the opportunities for tr