64 infections reported from various districts 
KATHMANDU, Aug 13: Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of the Department of Health Services (DoHS) said that it has deployed doctors to control scrub typhus that is spreading in several districts.

District public health offices (DPHO) of Chitwan, Nuwakot, Nawalparashi, Bara, Kailali, Gorkha, Parsa, Mahottari, Dhading, among others, have sought help of the EDCD to prevent the disease from spreading further.

“We have sent doctors to the disease-hit districts to control its spread,” Dr Bhim Acharya, director at the EDCD, said. He informed that 64 people have already been infected with the disease this year.

“Fortunately, no one has died yet. We have deployed doctors to bring its spread under control,” Dr Acharya added.

Scrub typhus is a disease caused by Rickettsia bacteria. Doctors say that the fever transmitted by fleas, mites or lice could affect lungs, brain, renal failure, or even lead to heart problems if not treated within 10 days, and may eventually cause death.

The EDCD informed that eight people infected with the disease died last year.  

“We have sent treatment guidelines to health facilities throughout the country,” Dr Gunanidhi Sharma, chief of Epidemiology section at the EDCD, said.

He urged people not to be panic because the disease can be treated even at the health post level. “It can be treated with simple antibiotic, which is available in all health facilities,” added Sharma.  

According to Dr Sharma, farmers and children playing outdoors are vulnerable to the infection. He suggests all to avoid walking barefooted on grass or in the fields and visit health facilities as soon as they suffer from high fever.

 
• epidemiology and disease control division
 
• department of health services