Newmai News Network Aizawl | January 21 The number of cases of scrub typhus infection at Haulawng village in southern Mizoram’s Lunglei district has gone up to 161, state health department officials said. State nodal officer of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, Dr Pachuau Lalmalswama said that first case of scrub typhus infection was reported from the village in early January. He said that at least 161 people were infected with scrub typhus infection at Haulawng village and neighbouring villages in Lunglei district. However, the nodal officer said that the spread of the disease has been contained and the infected patients were being given medical treatment. He added that a medical team on Saturday rushed to Mausen village and collected samples for laboratory examination which will be conducted on Monday. Lalmalsawma also said that scrub typhus cases were reported at Phullen village under Aizawl district in December last year. Scrub typhus is a mite-borne disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi (formerly Rickettsia tsutsugamushi). The adult mites do not bite, and the larvae – which are too small to be seen by the naked eye – do so in a painless manner. Symptoms are fever, a primary lesion, a macular rash, and lymphadenopathy.
