Woman dies of scrub typhus today, taking death toll to three

Chitwan / Aug 15: A woman has died of scrub typhus today, the Chitwan District Public Health Office said. The woman was receiving treatment at the Chitwan Medical College when she died.

With this, the death toll due to the disease that has been spreading especially in the eastern region has reached three. Likewise, the total 76 have been infected, said Chief of the Chitwan District Epidemiology Section under the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Dr Guna Nidhi Sharma. He added that the disease has been detected in 20 districts and Chitwan has the highest infected rate.

The disease is an acute, febrile, infectious illness caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi.

Doctors said that the disease is transmitted to humans by some species of trombiculid mites (chiggers, Leptotrombidium deliense and others). Symptoms include headache, fever above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, sweating and gland swelling among others.

The total 67 people from Chitwan alone have been infected and they are receiving treatment at various health institutions in the district, said information officer at the DPHO Narahari Sharma.

Guna Nidhi said that earlier two persons from Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur are confirmed to have died of the disease.

According to available data, the disease broke out in Nepal last year and claiming eight people. RSS