- Sunitha Rao R
A six-year-old girl from Siddapur, Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, died recently due to Kyasanuru forest disease (KFD), also known as Monkey fever.
It is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever first identified in 1957 in Kyasanur Forest in Shivamogga district, Karnataka. The disease later spread to 10 neighboring states.
Symptoms of KFD are high fever, headache, myalgia, absent reflexes, vomiting, tremors, confusion and in severe cases, bleeding from the nasal cavity, throat and gums.
KFD is transmitted through tick bites or contact with infected animals, such as sick or dead monkeys. Hard ticks, monkeys, rodents, and bats are the common hosts of the virus. Photo by National Centre for Disease Control, GOI
Since January 2024, Karnataka has recorded 279 cases of KFD. The current positivity rate is 5%, and as of May 7, 24 people are undergoing treatment for KFD in the state.
As of 2024, Karnataka has recorded 14 deaths caused by KFD, with a case fatality rate of 5%. The deaths include 9 victims from Uttara Kannada district, 4 from Chikkamagalur and 1 from Shivamogga.
Siddapur, a taluk in the Uttara Kannada district, has become the hotspot for KFD infections in 2024, and as of now, the taluk has recorded 99 cases. Those who frequently visit forests are particularly vulnerable to the disease.
KFD has no specific treatment. Vaccination is the only way to prevent the severity. However, annual vaccination has been discontinued due to a lack of vaccine efficacy.
As a preventive measure, Diethyl Phenyl Acetamide (DEPA) oil, a tick repellent, has been distributed to the public in the endemic regions. Application of this oil is suggested on the exposed skin before entering the forest areas.