Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district Deputy Commissioner Dr. S Sasikanth Senthil has asked the officials of the Health, Forest and Animal Husbandry departments to be very careful about the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) to ensure no casualties are reported in the district.
Following the outbreak of (KFD) which is also known as monkey fever in Shivamogga district, DC Senthil convened a meeting at the Zilla Panchayat office in Urwastore on Friday, January 18 and asked the officials to form a WhatsApp group in order to communicate and report to the district administration with regard to the precautionary measures they have taken in their respective areas.
“If there is an outbreak of KFD in our district also, we need to take appropriate measures to prevent people from falling victims to this disease. The health department should immediately come out with pamphlets, educating people regarding the causes of KFD and necessary safety measures to be taken in this regard”, he said.
Informing about the KFD, health officials said that the transmission of KFD disease to humans may occur after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal, most importantly a sick or recently dead monkey. The disease infects the human beings after the same tick bites them. After an incubation period of 3-8 days, the symptoms of KFD begin suddenly with chills, fever and headache. Severe muscle pain with vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms and bleeding problems may occur 3-4 days after initial symptom onset, they informed.
People who are living adjacent to the forest areas should avoid going to forest or should wear enough clothes ensuring no tick bites them. People should inform the health department if at all they found dead monkeys and people with symptoms, officials informed.
Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Dr. Selvamani R, District Health Officer Dr. Ramakrishna Rao among others were present.
