Viscera sample results in 2 days Udupi DHO

The result of the viscera samples of dead monkeys, sent to Viral Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) in Shivamogga, is being expected within two days, District Health Officer Dr Rohini said.

She was addressing officials at the first district-level Surveillance Committee meeting organised in DC office here, on Monday.

Rohini said that out of 20 monkey deaths reported in Udupi, the viscera samples of 11 monkeys were sent for the test. The report on the viscera samples is expected within two days, she said.

Udupi Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis presiding over the meeting said precautionary measures should be taken. She said the officials in the health and other departments should work in co-ordination to create awareness and to adopt precautionary measures.

The DHO said District Malaria Officer Dr Prashanth Bhat was appointed as the nodal officer for keeping a watch on the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) in Udupi district.

Elaborating over the preventive programmes that are adopted, she said that in the first phase, 120 bottles of tick repellent dimethyl phthalate (DMP) oil was supplied to Udupi and in the second phase, 960 bottles will be supplied. The DMP oil is available in the district and those who venture out into the forest should apply DMP oil in order to avoid coming into contact with ticks that transmit KFD, she said.

KMC Medical Superintendent Dr Avinash Shetty said that separate wards for male and female patients have been opened at KMC to treat the KFD patients.

Dr Kavitha Saravu, senior consultant in medicine, KMC said that free treatment is given to the patients admitted for KFD. The patients admitted at KMC are from Sagara in Shivamogga district, she added.