One person dies, 107 infected with scrub typhus

Aizawl, Jul 6 (PTI) One person died and at least 107 people were infected by scrub typhus in Mizoram's Lunglei district since June, a state Health department official said today.Scrub typhus, also kno

Aizawl, Jul 6 (PTI) One person died and at least 107 people were infected by scrub typhus in Mizoram’s Lunglei district since June, a state Health department official said today.

Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a disease caused by a bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi. Scrub typhus is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites), they said.

Dr Pachuau Lalmalsawma, state nodal officer for Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (ISP) said that a 29 year old man, teacher of Pangzawl Higher Secondary School died due to scrub typhus-induced high fever while 54 males and 53 females were infected by the scrub typhus which was propagated by vector mites.

Lalmalsawma said that scrub typhus virus was found in some of the rodents trapped by Health department officials and Pangzawl villagers.

Earlier, one person died and 23 people were infected by scrub typhus in central Mizoram’s Thenzawl town last week.

This is published unedited from the PTI feed.