The Health department has launched steps to combat Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) or monkey fever in Wayanad district in the wake of a larger outbreak of the disease reported in the district last year.
As many as 10 persons died of the disease and 211 suspected KFD cases were also reported in the district last year.
The outbreak of the viral disease, transmitted to humans through a species of ticks found on monkeys, had been mainly reported from tribal hamlets in Mullankolly, Sulthan Bathery Noolpuzha, Poothadi and Pulpally grama panchayats .
The Health Department decided to adopt a two-pronged strategy to combat the disease, including reducing the incidents of the disease in KFD affected area by intensifying personnel protection measures and reducing the mortality rate by setting up high-level health care facilities, District Medical Officer P.V. Sasidharan told The Hindu .
The personal protection measures includes free distribution of gloves, gumboots and lotions to the people in the KFD-hit area to keep the disease at bay, for which each KFD-hit grama panchayat in Pulpally health block block agreed to earmark Rs.2 to Rs.5 lakh for purchasing materials for the purpose, Dr. Sasidharan said.
Medicines including antibiotics and fluids have been stocked to meet any emergency and three special medical centres would be set up at District Hospital, Mananthavadi and Taluk hospitals at Sulthan Bathery and Kalpetta to reduce mortality rates, he added.
The Health Department also made a tie up with Wayanad Institute of Medical Science for the purpose.
Vaccination drive against the disease would be launched by the first week of November and a satellite unit of the Manipal Centre for Virus Research would be set up at Sulthan Bathery for speedy diagnosis of KFD by the first week of December, Dr. Sasidharan said.
District Collector Kesavendrakumar had convened a district-level inter sector meeting of the senior officials of various departments recently to discuss the issue and the measures to be taken on a war footing.
Similar meetings were also convened in KFD-hit grama panchayats.
Review meetings would be convened after the local body elections, Dr. Sasidharan added.
