Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 (BPNS)

A 39-year-old woman, Sabitha died of Scrub Typhus disease in Parassal, Thiruvananthpuram district. She was suffering from the disease for the past fifteen days and passed away today morning.

Ashwathi, a fifteen-year-old girl, died at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district due to Scrub Typhus on Thursday. She was awaiting the results of her tenth standard board examination when she contracted the disease and passed away.

The state health minister Veena George has directed a special medical team to visit her native place and where she was admitted. However even after the state health department took precautions, the second death has led to anxiety among health workers and the department.

Scrub Typhus is an infectious disease caused by the Orientia tsutsugamushi, a mite-borne bacterium. It is to be noted that Chigger mites, the larval stage of mites, transmit the disease from rats, squirrels, rabbits, and dogs.

State health minister Veena George said that the state health department is monitoring the situation.