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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
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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
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Word History
First Known Use
1929, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near scrub typhus
Cite this Entry
“Scrub typhus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrub%20typhus. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on scrub typhus
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scrub typhus
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