The mortality is high among scrub typhus if patients fail to get immediate treatment. At least 14 persons died of the disease last year and more than 140 cases were reported from different parts of the state.

The deadly disease was first reported three years ago in Alwar. Last year, it spread to 10 different districts. Some cases were reported from Jaipur rural too.

An SMS hospital official said that the three cases reported now are the first cases of scrub typhus of the season.

Health officials said that mostly those in rural areas are likely to fall victim to the disease as there is a mite known as chiggers which is found in grass and green areas. The chiggers are found in scrub vegetation. The mite bites a person and leaves behind a black spot on the body.

Apprehensive about the spread of the disease, the health department has started taking all precautionary measures in the area where the scrub typhus cases were reported last year.

Chief medical & health officer, Dausa, OP Bairwa said, “We took a meeting of all the block heads in the district and instructed them to inspect the areas where the cases have already been reported earlier.”

Dr Bairwa said that since the mortality among scrub typhus cases is quite high, they are administering doxycycline tablets for those coming with fever as it is the best available medicine for the disease.

Health officials said that a person who moves in the grass should cover his or her legs properly so that mite does not bite them.