Two die of scrub typhus in Himachal Pradesh, toll rises to 16

Two more people died of scrub typhus today in Himachal Pradesh, taking this year's toll to 16, an official said.
A 19-year-old woman from Mohal in Kullu died at a hospital here on September 20, said Senior Medical Superintendent of the Indira Gandhi medical college Hospital (IGMC) Romesh.
A 48-year-old man from Kotkhai in Shimla district, who was admitted to the IGMC on September 19 died today, he said.
"So far 15 people from various parts of the state have died at the IGMC while one died at Dr RP Medical College, Tanda (Kangra)," he said.
Romesh said that so far 360 patients brought to the IGMC have tested positive and most of them were discharged after receiving treatment.

The scrub typhus or mite-borne typhus is an infectious disease caused by the biting of a specific type of bacteria called (Orientia tsutsugamushi), spread and maintained by the larvae (chiggers) of mites.