Woman's Death in Chitwan Highlights Rising Scrub Typhus Threat

Chitwan - A 36-year-old woman from Bardghat municipality-13 has died of scrub typhus while undergoing treatment at Bharatpur Hospital, underscoring the escalating public health threat posed by the disease. The woman, who was also an epilepsy patient, was admitted to the hospital on August 20.

The death comes amid a significant rise in scrub typhus cases in the district. According to Public Health Office Chief Dinesh Rupakheti, 73 patients have recently tested positive for the disease at various local hospitals, with 58 of those cases originating from Chitwan itself. The data reveals that of the 1,530 tests conducted, nearly 5% were positive, a trend consistent with the annual surge in cases during the monsoon season when the disease-carrying mites are more prevalent. The Public Health Office has previously reported a total of 1,055 confirmed cases in the past fiscal year, with a rising trend in recent months.

Scrub typhus is an acute bacterial infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mites. Symptoms often include a high fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes a black scab (eschar) at the bite site. Public health officials are urging residents to practice good hygiene, avoid walking in bushy areas, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear. 

(Source: RSS reporting)