HD Kote jittery following reports of KFD cases in neighbouring Kerala town

MYSURU: Following reports of the spread of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), commonly called monkey disease, in Mananthavady town in Kerala, people in Heggada Devana Kote (HD Kote) taluk, which borders the Kerala town, have been seized by panic, triggered by fears of a possible outbreak of the malaise in the area. With KFD having claimed more than five lives in Shivamogga district, residents of HD Kote taluk are understandably a perturbed lot. Meanwhile, in a bid to preempt tragedies, officials of the district health department have decided to keep an ambulance waiting at DB Kuppe village in the taluk to ensure timely treatment for suspected victims of the disease.
Health department officials have also directed hospitals across the taluk, and medical institutions in Mananthavady to collect blood samples of those complaining of known symptoms of the disease such as fever. Samples thus collected will be sent to either Manipal or NIMHANS in Bengaluru for examination.

HD Kote taluk health officer Dr Ravi Kumar told TOI that two patients currently undergoing treatment for KFD – one in Mananthavady and the other in Kozhikode – had stayed briefly in Thimmana Hosahalli in the taluk, triggering fears of an outbreak among the residents. “Two young men, who were married to natives of the village had visited and stayed here for a couple of days. Since both of them tested positive for KFD, the people are understandably worried. But, so far, no KFD deaths have been reported in the taluk,” he said.

Dr Kumar, who toured Timanna Hosahalli and surrounding villages in the taluk along with Mysuru district health officer (DHO) Dr B Basavaraj on Thursday, said that they had already carried out a vaccination drive in most of the villages in the taluk, adding that a booster dose would be administered soon. “We were accompanied by officials from the forest and animal husbandry departments. We have requested people to alert us about death of monkeys in the taluk. We held a meeting of the health task force to assess our preparations last week. There is no need to worry,” he added.

Two fatalities reported in the taluk that were suspected to be KFD victims had turned out to have succumbed to kidney failure and food poisoning respectively, Dr Kumar said.

Meanwhile, Mysuru deputy commissioner Abhiram G Sankar affirmed that not a single KFD case had been reported across the district.

DHO Dr Basavaraj said that the department would keep a tight vigil on any possible cases of KFD in the district, adding that all hospitals had been given strict instructions on the procedure to be followed in the event of people complaining of fever.

DHO for Chamarajanagar Dr KH Prasad confirmed that no case of KFD had been reported yet in his district.