18-year-old boy succumbs to scrub typhus at IGMC

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 20

After swine flu, which has claimed 10 lives this year, the threat of scrub typhus looms large over the state. An 18-year-old boy succumbed to the disease at IGMC here yesterday.

As per health officials, out of 2,516 cases screened for scrub typhus, 208 patients have tested positive till August 19, revealed health officials.

Cases of scrub typhus are generally reported in the month of August and September.

Health officials are concerned over swine flu cases reported so far. Ten persons died of swine flu — four in Kangra, two each in Shimla and Hamirpur and one each in Chamba and Sirmaur districts so far. Of the 440 patients screened, as many as 52 have tested positive till August 19.

Two cases of swine flu (one each from Shimla and Mandi) and eight cases of scrub typhus were reported last week, taking the number of swine flu to 17 and scrub typhus 80, at IGMC, said, Dr Ramesh Chand, Senior Medical Superintendent.

Local hospitals at Shimla, Manali and other tourist places have sufficient stock of medicines to deal with swine flu and scrub typhus cases, said Pankaj Rai, Director, National Health Mission.

Suspected swine flu case reported

Mandi: A patient with suspected swine flu symptoms was referred to IGMC, Shimla, from here on Sunday. She was being treated at hospital in Sundernagar for the past few days. Joginder Thakur, District Health Officer, Mandi, said the patient was suffering from severe pneumonic symptoms and breathing problem.