Yet, another outbreak of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), a
viral haemorrhagic fever has been reported in
some villages of Shivamogga district in Karnataka. Six deaths have been
reported due to the disease.
Here are some salient facts about KFD, also known as
monkey fever.
· KFD is a reemerging zoonotic disease caused by the
KFD virus.
· The disease is derived from Kyasanur forest area in
Shimoga district of Karnataka in 1957. It is now endemic in India, along the
Western Ghats. Cases have been reported in China.
· The KFD virus is an arbovirus, genus flavivirus and
family Flaviviridae.
· Humans acquire the infection by bite of infective
ticks.
· The main reservoirs of the virus are small mammals,
especially rats and squirrels. Monkeys are amplifying hosts for the virus. Man
is an incidental dead end host. Human to human transmission has not been
reported.
· The epidemic period usually begins in October or November
and peaks from January to April, then declines by May and June.
· Incubation period is 3-8 days after an infective tick
bite.
· Clinical presentation: Sudden onset of high grade fever
with chills, intense frontal headache and severe myalgia, prostration. In
severe cases, GI disturbances and hemorrhagic symptoms (bleeding from nose,
gums, stomach and intestine) may occur.
· In some cases, a second phase of illness occurs
after an afebrile period of 7-21 days. Clinically, it manifests as return of
fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and coarse tremors and presents as
meningoencephalitis.
· Diagnosis is established via PCR, virus isolation from
blood or enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA).
· Case fatality rate is 2-10%. Fatality is higher in
the elderly and in the presence of comorbidities such as liver disease.
· Prevention is by control of ticks in forests by
insecticide spraying of the endemic zones and “hot spots” in the forests i.e.
within 50 m of the area where monkey deaths have occurred; wearing adequate
clothing and using insect repellents (DEET).
· At risk population should be vaccinated with killed KFD
vaccine.
· There is no specific treatment for KFD; treatment is
supportive with maintenance of hydration and circulation.
(Source: Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social
Medicine, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP)-National Center for
Disease Control)
Dr KK
Aggarwal
Padma
Shri Awardee
President
Elect Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)
Group
Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President
Heart Care Foundation of India
Past
National President IMA
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