Scrub typhus claims four

Chitwan - As many as four persons were killed from scrub typhus in the last fiscal year here in the district.

The disease was seen in a total of 509 persons in the fiscal year 2016/17. Among the dead, one is from Tanahun while the rest are from Chitwan. The blood test was carried out among 1765 persons, said Kit Control Inspector, Ram Kumar KC, of the District Public Health Office, Chitwan. 

Scrub typhus was seen among a total of 137 from mid June to mid July this year. In the same period last year the number of patients suffering from the disease stood at 31. In the fiscal year 2015/16, one person died from the disease. 

After mid July with the monsoon in full swing, the number of patients suffering from the disease has soured. In the last week alone at least 13 persons sought treatment for the disease. 

Meanwhile, the medical institutes in the district are facing a shortage of medical kits to test scrub typhus. Kit Control Inspector KC said a letter has been sent to the Department of Health for availability of additional kits.