In the wake of eight positive cases of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever, being reported in Tirthahalli taluk in December last year, Deputy Commissioner M. Lokesh has directed the officials of Department of Health and Family Welfare to step up preventive measures against the disease.
He was speaking at a meeting held in the city on Tuesday to review measures taken to prevent the outbreak of epidemics in the district.
Rajesh Suragihalli, District Health Officer, told the meeting that the positive cases were reported from Kudumallige Gram Panchayat limits in Tirthahalli taluk.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of KFD include high fever, vomiting, severe joint pain and bleeding from the nose and gums.
The blood samples of patients who complain of these symptoms in the affected area are being sent for testing and doctors are providing symptomatic treatment for them immediately. The vaccine to prevent KFD has been administered to around 18,000 persons in Tirthahalli and Hosanagar taluks in the year 2016-17, he said.
Prevalence
Mr. Lokesh said that as the prevalence of KFD is high during January, February and March, the officials should be on alert now.
As the disease is transmitted from monkeys to humans through tick bite, the people in affected areas who venture in to forest should be directed to apply tick-repellent oil, he said.
Bird flu
Mr. Suragihalli said that in the wake of outbreak of bird flu in Mysuru, an alert has been sounded in Shivamogga district also.
The Accredited Social Health Activists are creating awareness about the disease in areas where humans stay that are located near poultry farms and bird sanctuaries, he said.
District Surveillance Officer Shankarappa, Tirthahalli Tahshildar Dharmoji Rao were present in the meeting.
