Fresh Monkey fever cases being reported: officials

Despite denials from health officials in Bengaluru over the last week that an outbreak of the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is under control, DH has received information that 15-20 new cases are reported in the state every week.

According to Dr Kiran S K, deputy director for Virus Diagnostic Lab (VDL) at Shivamogga, the state was receiving up to 100 cases in the months of January, February and March. “It is only recently that the numbers of cases have come down,” he said.

Health officials said that most of the reported cases are in Shivamogga district, but that about 70 cases originate from Northern Karnataka, and the rest are from Udupi, Mysuru and Belagavi.

While a news report published on Saturday indicated that a total of 383 cases had been treated at Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal, and released, Dr Kiran explained 30 to 35 cases remain at the hospital.

Although there is no specific cure for KFD, the fatality rate for the disease is about 5-7%, said Dr Kiran, who added that there are 14 confirmed deaths so far from the illness.

He added that the disease first manifests itself as a high fever, coupled with a severe headache. In some cases, diarrhoea and hypertension have been reported.