22 die of scrub typhus infection in Mizoram

Aizawl: At least 22 people have died due to scrub typhus infection from ticks since 2012 in Mizoram, a state health department official said.

492 patients suffering from scrub typhus infection were treated during the same period, Dr Pachuau Lalmalsawma, Nodal Officer for the state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) said.

Lalmalsawma said that the ticks carrying scrub typhus virus were mainly concentrated in Champhai district bordering Myanmar, while ticks carrying Indian Tick Typhus virus were mainly found in south Mizoram's Lunglei district.

The scrub typhus carrier ticks are extremely small and very difficult to detect in the jungle, but the bite could be fatal, he said.