1 more dies of scrub typhus in Odisha’s Bargarh; VIMSAR fact-finding team conducts probe

Bargarh: One more scrub typhus patient died today in Bargarh. With this, the total number of deaths due to the disease reached six in the district. Following this, a fact-finding team of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla reached here and carried out a probe.

It is said that the death was reported from a private nursing home in Bargarh district. However, no official of the Health Department has confirmed so far that the death occurred due to scrub typhus.

The three-member medical team comprised of assistant professor Dr. Shankar Ramchandani, assistant professor and microbiologist Dr. Satyabrat Thakur and assistant professor of community medicine Dr. Udaya Kumar Nayak. After reaching Bargarh and prior to going to the field for investigation, the team had a discussion with the district chief medical officer (CDMO) Jitendra Mohan Bebarta.

“Testing arrangement has been made in CHC Bargarh for anti-body tests by using the ELISA technique. Accordingly, 376 tests have been done so far, of which 11 patients tested positive. Sixty-two tests were done today and all the samples were reported to be negative,” the CDMO asserted.

The health conditions of 11 infected patients are stable now, the CDMO said mediapersons.

Worth mentioning, five persons died of scrub typhus in Bargarh district since August 31 this year. They were identified as Asana Sahu (45) of Salepali village under Bheden block, Jagadish Bhoi of Khairapali in Barpali block, Santosh Bhue (54) of Beherapali (Ghess) under Sohela block, Ritushree Meher (18) of Lastala village under Attabira block and Mandodari Padhan (105) of Petupali under Sohela block.