Chitwan, August 20

Scrub typhus and swine flu cases are on the rise in Chitwan. As many as 196 patients in Chitwan have tested positive for swine flu A (H1N1) in the past three months.

According to District Public Health Office, Chitwan, blood samples of 247 persons were tested in June, July and August for swine flu.

Ram KC, kit controller at the office, said 16 patients in June, 118 in July and 62 in August were found infected with the virus. Of them, 158 patients were from Chitwan and the remaining 38 from Dhading, Nawalparasi and adjoining districts. Swine flu, which is transferred from pigs to humans, is also transmitted from person to person.

Meanwhile, a total of 105 patients were diagnosed with scrub typhus in the past month. “A total of 105 patients undergoing treatment at various health facilities of the district for the past month were diagnosed with scrub typhus,” said KC.

During the period, one patient succumbed to the disease. Scrub typhus, also known as tsutsugamushi disease, is an infectious illness caused by Orientia (Rickettsia) tsutsugamushi and is transmitted to humans  and  rodents  by chigger bites.

Areas like forest clearings, riverbanks, and grassy regions provide favourable environment for infected mites to thrive.

Scrub typhus was first reported in the country in 2015. In that year, 101 people from 16 districts had tested positive for scrub typhus. Of them, eight succumbed to the disease. In 2016, 831 people from 14 districts tested positive for the disease. Of them, 14 died.