At least two children have died of scrub typhus in the eastern region in the last 30 days and five, of the total 11 cases reported, are undergoing treatment for the disease at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan.

Scrub typhus is an acute, febrile, infectious illness that is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, and if untreated, it could lead to death.

Doctors at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan said two children suffering from the disease died while undergoing treatment at the hospital. “Eleven children admitted at the hospital in the last 30 days were diagnosed with scrub typhus,” said Dr Dinesh Dharel of the pediatrics department at the hospital. “Condition of two children was critical when they were admitted, and they died of the disease,” said Dr Dharel.

The affected children are between the age of seven months and 14 years. They were brought to the hospital from Sankhuwasabha, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Morang and Ilam districts.

The children earlier were taken to various health facilities after they suffered from fever, headache and measles-like rash in the neck region. Doctors said lab results of the samples collected from 11 patients tested positive for scrub typhus.

Rodents are the main vectors of the disease.

Scrub typhus is transmitted to humans and rodents by some species of trombiculid mites (‘chiggers’, Leptotrombidium deliense and others). Humans acquire the disease from the bite of an infected chigger. The bite of the mite leaves a characteristic black eschar that is useful to the doctor for making the diagnosis.

At least 50 cases of scrub typhus have been reported in Chitwan and neighbouring districts in the last four months.

According to the World Health Organisation, the Tarai region of Nepal is a suitable environment for scrub typhus.