The recent outbreak of Monkey Fever disease in Shivamogga district in Karnataka has claimed six lives there.
Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic fever.
Nomenclature:
The disease was first reported from Kyasanur Forest of Karnataka in India in 1957, hence it is known as Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD).
The disease first manifested as an epizootic outbreak among monkeys killing several of them in the year 1957. Hence, it is also known as monkey fever.
Distribution: The disease is endemic to South Asia. It has mainly occurred in Karnataka and the adjacent states including Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
Cause and Transmission:
It is caused by a virus belonging to the family Flaviviridae, which also includes yellow fever and dengue fever.
The vector for disease transmission is Haemaphysalis spinigera, a forest tick. Humans contract infection from the bite of nymphs of the tick.
Symptoms/effect:
Symptoms include a high fever with headaches, followed by haemorrhagic symptoms, such as bleeding from the nasal cavity, throat, and gums etc.
The disease has a fatality rate of 3-10%, and it affects 400-500 people annually.
Cure: Prophylaxis by vaccination, as well as preventive measures like protective clothing, tick control, and mosquito control are advised. The vaccine consists of formalin-inactivated KFDV.
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