Two ‘monkey fever’ deaths prompt Kataka health officials to re-examine prevention measures

Two people have died from Kisanur forest disease in Karnataka so far this year, prompting health department officials to convene a meeting to review preparedness to deal with the spread of the viral infection.

According to the health department, Hosanagar taluk in Shivamogga district reported its first death due to Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), popularly known as monkey fever, on January 8, in which an 18-year-old girl succumbed to the virus. The second death was reported in Manipal in Udupi district, where a 79-year-old man from Sringeri taluk in Chikkamagaluru died at a private hospital.

So far, 49 positive cases of monkey fever have been detected in the state, of which maximum 34 cases have been reported from Uttarakhand district, 12 cases have been reported from Shivamogga district and the remaining three cases have been reported from Chikkamagalur district.

A senior health official said that amid the rise in the number of KFD cases and two deaths, Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Commissioner D Randeep visited Shivamogga on Saturday and met with Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga and Shivamogga where KFD cases have been reported. A meeting was held among health officials of Chikkamagaluru district. officials said.

Randeep along with a team of senior officials of the state health department reviewed the preparedness to deal with the spread of the viral infection.

According to the state health commissioner, since January 1 this year, the health department has collected 2,288 samples from affected areas where KFD cases were reported, of which 48 tested positive.

“We are taking all precautions and working closely with district officials where cases of KFD have been reported to prevent its spread. Currently, there is no vaccine for this disease, so we need to be extra cautious. People are increasing their awareness of taking precautions to prevent its spread. Awareness to deal with further spread of infection. Vaccination provided earlier was found to be ineffective. Therefore, we have approached ICMR for vaccination,” said another senior health official.

According to health officials, monkey fever is spread through bites from ticks that usually survive on monkeys. This tick bites humans, causing infection. Humans can also become infected by contact with tick-bitten cattle.

Authorities are conducting a door-to-door awareness campaign on the preventive measures that should be taken. People living in and around forested areas need to be more careful as they are at high risk of contracting the disease, they said.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)