<p>Although the State has not had cases of CCHF till now, Kyasanur Forest diseases (KFD) and Rickettsia fever have been commonly seen in certain districts of the State. The outbreak of the latter was, in fact, reported in Tumkur and Kolar last October.<br /><br />However, the number of infected persons responded to the vaccine given during the KFD outbreak in 157. Steady vaccination of high risk groups in Shimoga, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Mangalore and Uttara Kannada since 1957 has ensured no fresh cases. The high risk groups are humans having contact with cattle, domestic animals and animals susceptible to ticks. <br /><br />"There are several types of mite-borne viruses. KDF, Rickettsia and the more recent CCHF are some of them. We had lot of cases of KFD in 1957, where deaths had also occurred. <br /><br />However, we developed a vaccine that has been regularly administered to high risk groups," said Dr T S Cheluvaraju, joint director (Communicable Diseases), Health department. <br /><br />Dr Cheluvaraju stated that there were sporadic cases of CCHF reported in the country in the past. He added that doctors, lab technicians, nurses and other relatives of patients who tested positive for CCHF should take the similar precautions that are taken while handling HIV positive patients. <br /><br />"The virus can spread via body secretion, urine, semen, while drawing of blood and needle prick. So people need to be cautious while handling such patients," he said. <br /><br />Although the fatal disease in humans has not been reported in other states, the State is gearing for a meeting with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to discuss on how to prepare for CCHF.<br /><br />Congo fever<br /><br />A haemorrhagic fever, the Congo fever has been prevalent in Indian subcontinent for some time. It is highly infectious and fatal and induces symptoms like fever, malaise, headache, sore throat, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and hemorrhage. The hosts of the CCHF virus are cattle, sheep, goat, hares, birds, rodents and infected ticks. <br /><br />So, when a tick carrying the virus either bites a domesticated animal or directly comes in contact with humans, the virus transmits through this contact. Even consumption of infected animal's meat can also result in humans getting CCHF. Apparently, 27 species of ticks are known to carry the CCHF virus. <br /><br />As for treatment, Ribavirin has been recommended for CCHF by National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). However, there is not enough clinical experience to prove this treatment is effective. <br /><br /></p>
<p>Although the State has not had cases of CCHF till now, Kyasanur Forest diseases (KFD) and Rickettsia fever have been commonly seen in certain districts of the State. The outbreak of the latter was, in fact, reported in Tumkur and Kolar last October.<br /><br />However, the number of infected persons responded to the vaccine given during the KFD outbreak in 157. Steady vaccination of high risk groups in Shimoga, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Mangalore and Uttara Kannada since 1957 has ensured no fresh cases. The high risk groups are humans having contact with cattle, domestic animals and animals susceptible to ticks. <br /><br />"There are several types of mite-borne viruses. KDF, Rickettsia and the more recent CCHF are some of them. We had lot of cases of KFD in 1957, where deaths had also occurred. <br /><br />However, we developed a vaccine that has been regularly administered to high risk groups," said Dr T S Cheluvaraju, joint director (Communicable Diseases), Health department. <br /><br />Dr Cheluvaraju stated that there were sporadic cases of CCHF reported in the country in the past. He added that doctors, lab technicians, nurses and other relatives of patients who tested positive for CCHF should take the similar precautions that are taken while handling HIV positive patients. <br /><br />"The virus can spread via body secretion, urine, semen, while drawing of blood and needle prick. So people need to be cautious while handling such patients," he said. <br /><br />Although the fatal disease in humans has not been reported in other states, the State is gearing for a meeting with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to discuss on how to prepare for CCHF.<br /><br />Congo fever<br /><br />A haemorrhagic fever, the Congo fever has been prevalent in Indian subcontinent for some time. It is highly infectious and fatal and induces symptoms like fever, malaise, headache, sore throat, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and hemorrhage. The hosts of the CCHF virus are cattle, sheep, goat, hares, birds, rodents and infected ticks. <br /><br />So, when a tick carrying the virus either bites a domesticated animal or directly comes in contact with humans, the virus transmits through this contact. Even consumption of infected animal's meat can also result in humans getting CCHF. Apparently, 27 species of ticks are known to carry the CCHF virus. <br /><br />As for treatment, Ribavirin has been recommended for CCHF by National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). However, there is not enough clinical experience to prove this treatment is effective. <br /><br /></p>
