Scrub Typhus Claims 1 More Life In Odisha; Toll Mounts To 7 In Bargarh

Bargarh: The deadly scrub typhus claimed one more life in Bargarh district even as the highly infectious disease continued to spread in several parts of Odisha, particularly the western region.

With the death of another person in Bargarh due to scrub typhus, the toll mounted to seven in the district so far this year, officials said on Sunday.

The 48-year-old patient from Sohela area of the district died of scrub typhus while undergoing treatment at a private hospital, said Bargarh District Public Health Officer (DPHO) Sadhu Charan Dash.

Amid rise in scrub typhus cases in the state, a central team is visiting the affected districts to review the situation and suggest measures required to contain further spread of the disease, sources said.

The six-member team visited the scrub typhus-hit Sundargarh district on Saturday to take stock of the situation. The expert team reviewed the situation in Bargarh district on Sunday.

The central team is scheduled to visit various districts of western Odisha for a thorough assessment of the situation.

The team members reportedly discussed the issue with district health authorities in Bargarh and they are slated to visit different areas of the district. They will also inspect the laboratory of the District Headquarters Hospital (SHH).

While over 89 scrub typhus cases have so far been detected in Bargarh, the number of patients in Sundargarh stood at 292 as on Saturday.