A 62-year-old man has died of scrub typhus in Nepalgunj, taking the death toll from the disease in Salyan district to ten.

Jit Bahadur Malla of ward 4 in Darma Rural Municipality died while receiving treatment, according to the Health Service Office in Salyan.

The district has recorded 817 infections so far. Darma has reported the highest number, with 281 cases, followed by Bagchaur Municipality with 247 and Kumakh Rural Municipality with 82.

Kapurkot Rural Municipality has reported 69 cases, Salyan District Hospital 66, Chhatreshwari Rural Municipality 51, Bangad Kupinde Municipality 11, Triveni Rural Municipality six, Siddha Kumakh Rural Municipality three and Kalimati Rural Municipality two.

Yagya Bahadur Basnet, chief of Darma Rural Municipality’s health section, said Malla tested positive on October 14. After returning home from Salyan District Hospital, he developed breathing difficulties and was taken to Nepalgunj via Ghorahi for further treatment. He died while receiving treatment, Basnet said.

Scrub typhus, which is more prevalent during the monsoon, has become less common in recent weeks but remains a concern.

Health workers have urged people to wear clothing that covers their bodies, put on boots and gloves while collecting grass and firewood, and clear bushes around their homes to reduce the risk of infection.