Rise in scrub typhus, swine flu cases

Rise in scrub typhus, swine flu cases

Shimla, August 18

The twin scare of deadly swine flu coupled with the rising number of scrub typhus (ST) cases looms large in the state mainly in Shimla, Manali and other tourist destinations

Himachal has reported 10 deaths — four in Kangra, two each in Shimla and Hamirpur and one each in Chamba and Sirmaur till August 17 and 51 persons have tested positive for swine flu so far.

Out of the 2,471 cases screened for scrub typhus, 199 have tested positive, said health officials. But no ST death has been reported.

The scrub typhus cases have started pouring in for the last three days from different parts of the state. The IGMC reported that there was no new death due to both swine flu and the scrub typhus so far. But the hospital reported the two new cases of swine flu and eight fresh cases of ST taking the number of cases to 17 (swine flu) and 80 (ST) this season, said Dr Ramesh Chand, Senior Medical Superintendent, IGMC. — TNS