A child died and three others were taken ill due to scrub typhus in Khalsa Chintang Sahidbhumi Rural Municipality and Parkhibas Municipality in Dhankuta.

The identity of the deceased is yet to be established. She breathed her last during the course of treatment at the Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.

According to Dr Madan Kumar Upadhyay, senior medical superintendent of the District Hospital, Dhankuta, three children have been tested positive.

The disease is mostly diagnosed among the children as they have weak immune system.

Scrub typhus is an infectious mite-borne disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, and if untreated, could lead to death.

The disease is transmitted to humans and rodents by some species of trombiculid mites (‘chiggers’, Leptotrom-bidium deliense and others).

Fever, headache and measles-like rash around the neck are the common symptoms of the disease.

The disease is mainly treated by antibiotics it slows down the multiplication of the organism and as a result the patients develop immune response.

Scrub typhus cases are more likely to occur in people living close to bushes.