Four persons have died due to scrub typhus in Chitwan within past one year. Five hundred and four people, who were admitted to various hospitals in the district, were diagnosed with the infectious bacterial disease in the period. 

According to Vector Control Inspector Ram KC at the District Public Health Office, three patients from Chitwan and another from Tanahun died of the disease during treatment at Chitwan Medical College. 

Scrub typhus is an infectious mite-borne disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, and if untreated, could lead to death. 

Fever, headache and measles-like rash around the neck are the common symptoms of the disease. 

Thirteen people died while 277 were found infected with scrub typhus across the country last year. The bacterial disease was first diagnosed in the country in some patients admitted to the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in 2015. 

Two cases of scrub typhus were found in two children from Morang and Shankhuwasabha district during treatment in BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in June this year.