Scrub typhus claims eight lives in Himachal

Eight patients suffering from scrub typhus, a disease caused by the bite of an infected mite found in areas with heavy scrub vegetation, have died in the Himachal Pradesh capital city, a health official said Friday.

"The total number of scrub typhus deaths has risen to eight with the death of a five-year-old boy yesterday (Thursday)," an Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMCH) official here told IANS.

So far, 630 patients suffering from the disease have been reported in the IGMCH this year, he said, and added that the arrival of scrub typhus patients would continue till October-end. Since there is a dearth of well-equipped hospitals in other parts of the state, many patients are referred to the state capital for treatment.

The symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, muscle pain, cough and gastroenteritis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines).