Raleigh residents are dealing with tiny, red bugs that leave horrendously itchy bites

Chiggers are tiny red bugs that can leave us with itchy bites. However, new research out of NC State University has found that North Carolina chiggers carry a type of bacteria that can potentially cause a deadly disease called scrub typhus.

"I get allergic by bugs and it's really irritating," said Victoria Greene.

Scrub typhus is not currently found in the United States, but it is common in Asia.

"Burning, itchy, you know all of that, redness, inflammation," said Greene.

A team of researchers from NC State University, including Micheal Roe and UNC-Greensboro, have found that chiggers in North Carolina carry bacteria that can cause the potentially fatal disease scrub typhus.

Symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, chills, headache, and body aches.

"We don't know if these chiggers, carrying this bacteria, will cause human or animal disease," said Roe.

Researchers say that if they can determine whether or not these chiggers are a health risk, they can begin to develop ways to control them. This would help to protect people who enjoy spending time outdoors.

"We noticed nobody had ever looked for it before," said Roe. "So that was sort of the thing that went off in our heads."

Greene is one person who is concerned about the potential health risks of chiggers. She says that she gets allergic reactions to bug bites and worries about the possibility of contracting scrub typhus.

"It makes me more fearful to come outside," Greene said. "But it's summertime, and we all want to be out there."

Researchers say that the earlier they can do this research, the better they can prevent possible diseases and allow people to enjoy the outdoors without fear.