MONKEY FEVER

Jan. 13, 2019

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.