Out of all the epidemic prone diseases, scrub typhus in Himachal continues to be the disease that is claiming the maximum lives in the state.
According to the data available with the department of Health and Family Welfare, this year till November 21, the death toll due to scrub typhus has been 31, while 9431 were tested of the disease out of which 1360 tested positive.
Of the 31 deaths from across the state, from Shimla district 11 deaths, 7 each from Kullu and Kangra districts, 2 each from Mandi and Chamba and 1 each from Kinnaur and Bilaspur were reported.
In 2016, the disease took a toll of 37 lives with 1175 testing positive for the disease.
Meanwhile, Swine Flu has so far claimed 15 lives that include Kangra, 2 each Hamirpur (and Shimla, while 1 each from Bilaspur, Chamba, Kullu Sirmaur and Mandi.
Out of 764 tests conducted for Sine Flu, 75 tested positive for the disease.
Five deaths were reported owing to Swine Flu, while 14 tested positive, in 2016.
Although there were no deaths reported due to Dengue, 444 tested positive for the disease out of 2777 tests conducted, maintains the data.
Last year as many as 364 tested positive for the disease and no death was reported.
This year jaundice claimed 2 deaths while, 91 tested positive out of 607 testes conducted.State Programme Officer (Integrated Disease Surveillance Officer), National Health Mission, Sonam Gialchan Negi said, “With the Scrub Typhus disease that primarily occurs during the monsoons and the cycle persisting up to October, we had in the month of April started various awareness activities across the state at Gram Panchyat level.” He said.
“Our main target for next year is to bring down death and occurrence of scrub typhus. For this, we have started our efforts for next year so as to take additional adequate measures,” he added.