4 die of scrub typhus in Alwar in last 4 months

Jaipur, Aug 26 (PTI) At least four persons have died dueto scrub typhus in Alwar district in last four months takingthe death toll to 10, health department officials said today. Of the four deaths since May, Meera Devi died on May 24,before her Rajgarh-resident Manju Devi (22) died,Chatarpura-resident Manju (32) died in July and 6-year-oldAnkita, a resident of Malakhera, died on July 30. Out of all the people tested, 31 were confirmed positivewho are now undergoing treatment at Sawai Mansingh hospitalhere, the hospital’s additional superintendent Ajit SinghShekhawat and Chief Medical and Health Officer, Alwar, HansrajMeena said. Shekhawat said since January, 81 people have been testedpositive for the disease and 10 persons died due to it so far. Director of Medical, Health and Family Welfare Department,B R Meena said a team of two officers from the department hasbeen sent to Alwar district for investigating the reasonsbehind spreading of the disease. Scrub Typhus is caused by the bite of mites and rats inagricultural fields. The symptoms include severe headache, highfever and rashes, similar to that in dengue and malaria. PTIANL DIP SMJDIP