The virus that causes Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever, has extended its footprints this season as its presence has been confirmed in 13 gram panchayats (GPs) across Shivamogga, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts triggering apprehensions of a widespread outbreak.
Earlier, it was believed t hat the disease was confined to Aralagodu GP limits in Shivamogga district. Officials of Forest, Animal Husbandry and Health and Family Welfare departments had undertaken combing operations in the forests of Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada and Udupi to identify the dead monkeys to tackle the spread.
The viscera of more than 35 dead monkeys collected were sent for tests. The tests confirmed that the monkeys that had died in Aralagodu, Lingadahalli, Shiravanthe, Bandhagadde GPs in Sagar taluk; Konandur and Singanabidare GPs in Tirthahalli taluk; Sampekatte and Haridravathi GPs in Hosanagar taluk; Hosabale GP in Sorab taluk and Salur GP in Shikaripur taluk were infected with KFD. In addition to this, more monkeys died in four GPs in Udupi district and one GP in Uttara Kannada district due to KFD.
According to existing norms, people residing in a 5 km radius from the point where the death of the monkeys was reported should be administered the vaccine to prevent the outbreak. Sources in the Department of Health and Family Welfare said with the present stock, it is possible to administer the vaccine to 70,000 while the number of persons who need to be vaccinated is more.
Since November 2018, a primary dose of vaccine had been administered to more than 46,000 persons in Shivamogga district and the administering of booster dose would commence from February to develop immunity. In the wake of the shortage of vaccine, the department is planning to focus on preventive measures like distributing dimethyl phthalate (DMP) oil, a tick repellent, to the people in affected areas to avoid them coming into contact with the ticks that act as vectors for the virus that causes the disease.
14 new cases
Kiran S.K., Field Medical Officer of KFD, Department of Health and Family Welfare, told The Hindu that on Wednesday 14 new cases of fever and ache in joints were reported in Aralagodu GP limits. The blood samples of all these patients have been sent for tests. At present, 25 persons from Sagar were being treated as in-patients for symptoms of KFD in various hospitals, he added.
