Aizawl: Fresh cases of scrub typhus infection were reported with the death of one person in Pangzawl village in south Mizoram's Lunglei district in early July and another two in Sawleng village in Aizawl district recently.

Officials of the state health department said at least 20 others are suffering from the disease at present in Sawleng village.

The state government sent a medical team to the village on Tuesday to take stock of the situation, state nodal officer of the integrated disease surveillance programme, Pachuau Lalmalswama told The Telegraph.

Sources from Sawleng village said 11-year-old R.D. Lalfakzeli died of the infection on July 12, while 45-year-old Thangzalala died on Monday because of scrub typhus infection. The two were diagnosed with the infection in the first week of July, sources said.

Health department officials said at least 50 people from Sawleng village were examined at Darlawn hospital on Monday, out of whom 10 were found to be infected.

They said scrub typhus infection was also found in neighbouring villages of Sawleng village.

Pachuau said the infection is spreading very fast in the state. Health department officials said over 107 scrub typhus cases were reported from Pangzawl village in Lunglei district and more than 30 cases from Thenzawl village in Aizawl district recently.

At least 161 cases of scrub typhus infection were also reported from Haulawng village in Lunglei district and 89 others from Phullen village and surrounding villages like Luangpawn, Thanglailung and Zawngin in Aizawl district in January this year, they said.