Salyan, Aug. 25 -- Two people have died within a week in Darma Rural Municipality of Salyan after testing positive for scrub typhus, while another person with similar symptoms has also died, raising fears of a wider outbreak.

Two of the three victims tested positive for scrub typhus, while the third had similar symptoms but was not confirmed to have the disease.

The deaths have alarmed residents as infections continue to rise and local health facilities run short of testing kits, forcing patients to seek care outside the municipality.

The victims were 69-year-old Tul Bahadur Khadga of Layata Dhankadam in ward 5, 82-year-old Bal Bahadur Thapa of Maliwang in ward 6, and Nar Bahadur Budhathoki of Maliwang, who had symptoms similar to scru...