Despite precautionary and surveillance measures by the Department of Health and Family Welfare in the district against Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever, there is no sign of the outbreak subsiding in Malnad region and it is extending its reach to new areas here.
Chandraraju K.S., a member of the Aralagodu Gram Panchayat, epicentre of this season’s outbreak, told The Hindu that, on an average, four new positive cases are reported at the primary health centre in his village every week.
Drive for third dose
What is of particular concern is that some who have received the primary and the booster doses of the vaccine have also succumbed to the disease.
According to the schedule by the department, administering the third dose in affected areas is likely to commence from August.
Since December 2018, 15 persons have lost their lives owing to KFD in the district and out of that nine deaths were reported since March 1. A total number of 306 persons have been tested positive for KFD in the district this season of which 11 persons are still being treated at private hospitals in Udupi district as in-patients.
The department has vaccinated 1.4 lakh persons in the district against the disease this season so far. In Aralagodu, Poornima and Seethamma (who had died due to KFD in March) and Kariyappa (who passed away on May 1) were administered primary as well as booster doses of the vaccine.
Kiran S.K., Deputy Director of Viral Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL), an important arm of the department in tackling KFD, told The Hindu that the primary dose of the vaccine will offer 35 per cent immunity against the disease and the booster dose 65 per cent.
The immunity level in a vaccinated person would be enhanced to 87 per cent after the third dose.
The chances of getting infected with KFD virus will be less after the third dose, he said.
The infection has continued to extend its reach. In April, positive cases have been reported from Shettyhalli village, eight kilometres from Shivamogga city, and from Kargal town in Sagar taluk.
High density of ticks
The infection has been reported from the first time in Shettyhalli and Kargal. Mr. Kiran said that the pace at which the disease is spreading this season can be attributed to the high density of ticks in the forest and the high viral load in the ticks.
“Earlier, we used to collect 8 to 10 ticks by conducting flagging operation at the spot where a monkey had died due to KFD. This year, we are collecting 100 to 120 ticks through flagging. It is apparent that the number of ticks in the forest that causes KFD have increased,” he said.
Rajesh Suragihalli, District Health Officer, told The Hindu that with the commencement of summer, vigilance has been stepped up in the affected areas as the ticks will be active during this period. During summer, people in Malnad enter the forest to collect minor forest produce and dry leaves.
They have now been directed to avoid entering the forest. Residents of the affected areas have been directed to apply dimethyl phthalate (DMP), a tick repellent, on their body before venturing to their agricultural land on the forest fringe.
