Mizoram home minister R Lalzirliana was diagnosed with Scrub Typhus and is being treated at Presbyterian Hospital at Durtlang. Official sources from the hospital said the minister is recovering well. So far the disease has killed one and hundreds are infected in several parts of Mizoram.
R Lalzirlaiana was diagnosed with the typhus last week and was treated at Aizawl Civil Hospital and later relocated to Presbyterian Hospital at Durtlang, a kilometer from Aizawl. The minister is reported to have reacted positively to the treatment and is recuperating.
Suspected cases of Scrub Typhus were reported December last and were confirmed in the first week of January from Phullen village, which is located 125 km towards east from Mizoram’s capital Aizawl and bounded by Manipur state in the north.
So far more than 70 persons have been diagnosed with this mite-borne disease also known as bush typhus in Phullen village.
34 new confirmed cases were reported on Sunday at Haulawng village in the southern Lunglei district of Mizoram. Medical officer from Haulawng village Dr. Lalnunpuii said there were no serious or life threatening case but expressed apprehension that more could be infected.
“We are closely monitoring Haulawng and adjoining villages and the health directorate is doing its best to contain the disease as soon as possible,” the medical officer said.
Since the first case of Scrub Typhus in Mizoram was reported in 2012, 35 people have died and more than 900 others infected with the bacteria, health department officials said.