Shivamogga:At least two positive cases of the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), commonly known as the monkey fever, has been reported in Karnataka's Shivamogga district. According to Viral Diagnostic laboratory deputy director, Kiran SK, the first patient was around 60 years of age and the second was an 18-year-old boy.
"We would not like to disclose the name of the patients. We have taken strict action on providing vaccines to the people of the village," Kiran SK said.
The outbreak of the disease in 2019 had claimed the lives of 23 people with more than 400 infected.
KFD is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to South Asia. The virus spreads through parasitic ticks which latch on to monkeys and is transmitted to human through tick bites.
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The Kyasanur Forest Disease virus was first isolated from sick monkeys captured in Kyasanur forests in Shivamogga district in that state. As monkeys migrated to Goa and Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, the fever spread there and locals got infected.
The KFD infection, which starts with high fever and body ache, results in haemorrhage, similar to that in dengue. It has a mortality rate of 5 per cent to 10 per cent
