JOIN US The rise in the number of cases of the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) or monkey fever in neighbouring Goa has prompted the State health department to issue an health alert in the border districts.
Addressing a press conference here, Health Minister U T Khader said medical teams had been dispatched to Uttara Kannada district that borders Goa. The teams will study the ground realities and report to the Health department officials of the district, Khader said.
Monkey fever is a viral infection that spreads through infected ticks. The symptoms include fever lasting for more than 12 days, cough, vomiting and diarrhoea. Khader held a video conference with district health officers to discuss the preparedness to tackle diseases like Malaria, Chikungunya and Dengue. All district hospitals have been directed to keep adequate stocks of medicines, he said.
As many as 365 Dengue cases, 152 Chikungunya and 2,153 Malaria cases have been reported in the State since January this year, he said.
Guidelines for treating these diseases have been issued and Malaria detection kits have been dispatched to all health centres. Free blood platelets would be administrated to Dengue patients, the minister said.