Health officials in Kerala’s Wayanad district have issued an alert over the monkey fever outbreak, a report by The Hindu said. According to the report, the authorities have sounded the alert as Wayanad shares its borders with Karnataka. While there has been special focus on Wayanad, Kerala health officials say that all civic authorities in regions bordering Karnataka have been asked to ramp up the surveillance. The district medical Officer said that so far, Wayanad has not reported any confirmed case of monkey fever, which is medically known as Kyasanur Forest Disease.
History of monkey fever in Wayanad
Monkey fever was first reported in Wayanad back in 2013. A year later, another case came to light in 2014. Till date, the worst outbreak the region has seen was reported in 2015. At that time, over 100 people were infected and 11 had lost their lives.
Monkey fever: What happened in Karnataka?
The initial case of ‘monkey fever’ fatality was recorded on January 8 in Hosanagar taluk of Shivamogga district, where an 18-year-old girl succumbed to the virus. The second death occurred in Manipal, Udupi district, involving a 79-year-old man from Sringeri taluk in Chikkamagaluru.
What’s exactly is Kyasanur Forest Disease?
Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a viral illness transmitted primarily through tick bites. Ticks, often found on monkeys, serve as carriers of the virus. When these infected ticks bite humans, it can lead to the transmission of the disease. Additionally, individuals can contract KFD by coming into contact with livestock that has been bitten by ticks.
