Kathmandu, September 7

Three hundred patients have tested positive for scrub typhus in 32 districts across the country so far this year.

Five patients — three from Chitwan and two from Syangja — have died of the disease so far. Chitwan, Makwanpur, Nawalparasi and Kailali are the most affected districts.

In addition, a case of scrub typhus was reported from Pyuthan District Hospital recently. “Though there are patients visiting the hospital with the symptoms similar to that of scrub typhus lack of diagnostic kit has made it difficult to diagnose the disease,” said Dr Samir Lama at the hospital.

Scrub typhus, also known as tsutsugamushi disease, is an infectious illness caused by Orientia (Rickettsia) tsutsugamushi, transmitted to humans  and  rodents  by  the  bite  of  the  larva  of  trombiculid  mites (chigger).

The mites are both the vector and reservoir of the disease. The disease is transmitted from mites to rats and mice and the mites in their larval stage contact the disease organism by biting these rodents.