Deadly scrub typhus reaches Cuttack, claims man’s life in Niali

The deadly scrub typhus that has spread tentacles in Odisha has now reached Cuttack. The mite-borne disease has now claimed the life of a ‘baba’ (saint) at Mahima Ashram in Anlo village under Niali block. The deceased has been identified as Prabhakar Das, 60.

A devotee of Mahima cult, Prabhakar stayed in Nayagarh and often visited forests to collect roots and leaves of medicinal plants. He was allegedly bitten by a mite and was admitted to SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar after he fell sick.

Sources said, the baba wished to die in his Ashram and left the hospital after his health condition deteriorated. He later died in his Mutt in Anlo village.

“He was my neighbour and had been to Nayagarh where he was reportedly bitten by some insect and was admitted to a hospital. He returned home only to pass away just after two days. As he had told us that he was bitten by some insect, we alerted the medical officers who reached our village and collected our blood samples,” said a local resident Gunanidhi Samal.

“All the villagers are in fear and are waiting for the report. The villagers are doing well but are panicked. Hopefully, there is no threat to anyone,” he added.

When contacted, Niali Medical Superintendent S Naveen said, “We learnt that a person undergoing treatment at SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar died after returning home. After tests, we have confirmed that he was affected by scrub typhus.”

“He was a baba and his name was Prabhakar Das, aged 60. He lived in Nayagarh where he was affected by fever. His relatives admitted him to SUM Hospital but he returned home and died in Niali later. We have collected samples of at least 150 people in the village and the report has been sent to Cuttack. Further steps will be taken after the report arrives,” he added.