The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Shivamogga district in Karnataka, Dr. Selvamani R., has instructed officials to take immediate preventive measures to control the spread of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever. The directive follows the reporting of recent cases in the district.
Officials from the health, forest, and animal husbandry departments have been directed to intensify surveillance, conduct awareness campaigns in vulnerable villages, and ensure the availability of treatment facilities. The DC emphasized the need for coordination between departments to manage tick populations, which spread the virus from animals to humans.
Kyasanur Forest Disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to parts of Karnataka. Symptoms include high fever, headache, and bleeding. The disease has a seasonal pattern, with cases typically rising during the dry months from November to May.
The district administration has advised people living in and near forest areas to take precautions, such as using tick repellents and avoiding contact with sick or dead monkeys, which are indicator hosts for the disease.
