A team of epidemiology and entomology scientists, after a two-day visit of Wayanad on Friday, suggested combined efforts of various departments to combat Kysanur Forest Disease (KFD) or monkey fever in the district.
The team led by Dr. A. Sukumaran, State Epidemiologist, and Dr. Balasubrahmanyam, Senior Scientist, National Institute of Virology, Alappuzha, visited various parts of the district including the sites in Sulthan Bathery taluk where KFD cases were reported this year and last year and two sites in Vythiri taluk where two monkey deaths were reported on Thursday.
The team found that the density of ticks, which are suspected to transmit KFD from wild animals, especially monkey, to human beings, increased considerably in several villages adjacent to forests this year. Though the team had collected specimens of ticks, it was yet to identify the species or confirm whether they would transmit the disease, Asadevi, District Medical Officer, told The Hindu .
The team visited the district to asses the situation following recent reports on KFD and evolve a strategy to combat the disease, Dr. Asadevi said. “Since KFD is a tick-borne viral infection that spreads from monkeys to humans, we have intensified measures to prevent the spread of the disease with the support of Forest and Animal Husbandry Departments,” she said.
So far as 4,000 persons were vaccinated against the disease, but still some tribal people were showing reluctance to vaccination, she added.
The Health Department has organised awareness programmes to sensitise the tribal population to the gravity of the situation, she said. Two KFD positive cases had been reported in the district a few days ago. KFD had claimed 11 lives and 102 people had tested positive to the disease in the district last year.
4,000 persons vaccinated
Awareness programmes held
