Lumbini's health directorate says scrub typhus and dengue infections are rising. Over the past nine months, 2,780 people with suspected scrub typhus were tested across 12 districts and 231 were confirmed. In Dang, 65 of 624 suspected cases were confirmed, in Palpa 22 of 396, and in Rupandehi 14 of 216. For dengue, 827 of 846 suspected cases were confirmed: 251 in Palpa, 163 in Dang, 128 in Rupandehi, 65 in Gulmi and 45 in Arghakhanchi. Public health officer Tarabahadur Karki says both diseases are up compared with previous years. Scrub typhus spreads through infected mite bites and dengue through Aedes mosquitoes. People are advised to keep bushes and grass cleared and take care when working in fields. The Health Supply Management Centre in Butwal has sent test kits to district health offices.