Bargarh: Three persons suffering from scrub typhus have died at a private clinic in Odisha’s Bargarh this week, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Nirupama Sarangi confirmed on Wednesday.
“Three more cases have been detected among 20 who underwent ELISA test this month. They are at home and their condition is stable,” she said, adding that a meeting has been convened and massive awareness will be created about the disease.
Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus is a mite-borne bacterial infection caused by bites of infected larval mites. Fever, headache, body aches, and rash are its most common symptoms.
Sources said that Saroj Pradhan (42), a farmer of Mundapali village, succumbed on Monday, while a 70-year-old woman, Sakhi Pradhan of Padampur, died on Tuesday and Sikha Rana (16) of Padampur on Wednesday. Four more undergoing at private clinics in the town, sources added.
Last year, eight persons had reportedly died of the disease and 2,820 tested positive, including the then principal secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department Arabinda Kumar Padhee.