Khotang, September 19

District Public Health Office Khotang confirmed that as many as 14 persons had contracted scrub typhus in the district.

Typhus is caused by bacteria orientia tsutsugamushi which gets transmitted to humans by flea bite. The disease mostly attacks mice. According to the hospital source, 10 typhus patients have returned home after treatment while two have been referred to other hospitals. Two patients are still receiving treatment at the district hospital.

Dr Lamsal said that if treated immediately after diagnosis the ailment can be cured.

District health offices in many districts in the eastern region have appealed to the public to maintain good hygiene.

Scrub typhus patients complain of high fever, severe headache, rash, chills, and difficulty in breathing, among others.