Shivamogga DC instructs officials to take measures to avoid KFD infections

Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti has directed officials to implement effective control measures against Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), including spreading awareness among the public and ensuring early treatment for any type of fever.

The DC held a meeting with officers of the Health and Family Welfare Department in Shivamogga on Tuesday. The ticks, through which KFD spreads, are active between November and May, and the peak transmission period is between January and March, he observed, stating that the people of Sagar, Sorab, Hosanagar and Tirthahalli must remain highly vigilant.

The DC directed health officials to maintain strict surveillance in the Malnad region, particularly in ‘hotspots’ where monkey deaths have been reported. The officer directed the implementation of a fever survey, immediate treatment of all fever cases and reservation of 10 separate beds in all taluk hospitals for KFD patients. He stressed the need for the officers of Health, Animal Husbandry, Forest, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Departments to work with coordination to ensure that the infecton is avoided.

KFD is a viral tick-borne infection. People residing near or visiting forest areas for various reasons are vulnerable to the infection. To protect themselves from ticks, these individuals are advised to use a tick repellent oil (DEPA), which should be applied to exposed skin. The disease is also known as ‘monkey fever’ because monkeys can also become infected. Monkey deaths can, therefore, act as an early warning sign for potential outbreaks of the disease, he said.

District Surveillance Officer Dr. Nagaraja Naik said that this year, the department conducted 5,202 RT-PCR tests to detect KFD cases. Among these, 59 came back positive, while one death was recorded. In addition, 114 monkey deaths were observed this year, with autopsies confirming the infection in 31 of those cases. He noted that the locations where the monkeys were found dead have been designated as surveillance hotspots.

Zilla Panchayat CEO N. Hemanth, Additional DC V. Abhishek, District Health Officer K.S. Nataraj and others were present at the meeting.