The outbreak of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever in Malnad region of the district, is showing no signs of abating as four cases have now been reported from Tirthahalli taluk. The earlier cases were reported in Sagar taluk.
With this, the total number of KFD cases in the district since December 2018 has reached 62, of which 58 cases are from Aralagodu Gram Panchayat limits in Sagar taluk. Six persons from Aralagodu died during this period.
The prevalence of KFD is high every year from November to April during which dry spell prevails. While four KFD deaths and 48 cases were reported during this period in 2017-18, the toll and cases have already crossed this number this year.
Of the four cases reported from Tirthahalli, two were reported from Konandur Gram Panchayat limits on Thursday and two from Singanabidare Gram Panchayat limits on Friday. The cases were reported from Konandur and Singanabidare in the previous years also. In Aralagodu primary health centre, five fresh cases of high fever and headache, the symptoms of KFD, were reported on Friday and blood samples of the patients have been sent to the laboratory for tests.
Vaccination stepped up
Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Family Welfare has stepped up the vaccination drive to tackle the outbreak. Since November 2018, vaccine against KFD has been administered to 46,000 people in the district that includes 11,000 in Sagar taluk, 21,500 in Tirthahalli taluk, 7,500 in Hosanagar taluk, and 6,000 in Sorab taluk.
Ravi Kumar S.T., Deputy Director of KFD unit, Department of Health and Family Welfare, told The Hindu that the district received 14,000 bottles of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) oil, a tick repellent, on Friday. They have been sent to primary health centres in affected areas. The residents have been directed to apply DMP oil on their body prior to venturing out to work in their plantations on the forest fringes to avoid coming into contact with ticks that cause KFD.
Monkey deaths
Meanwhile, two monkeys were found dead in the forest near Karur village in Sagar taluk and one near Kelakere village in Tirthahalli taluk. The blood samples and viscera of the dead monkeys have been sent to the laboratory for tests. If they are tested positive for KFD, vaccine would be administered to people residing within a 5-km radius from where they were found dead.
