Officials told to take preventive measures against KFD

Zilla Panchayat CEO and In-charge Deputy Commissioner K Lakshmi Priya directed the officials concerned to undertake measures to prevent the spread of Kyasanuru Forest Disease (KFD).

Chairing a meeting at the Zilla Panchayat office, she felt a need to pay more attention towards the prevention and control of the disease in the areas situated on the fringes of forests.

She said that the animal husbandry department should be briefed upon by the Forest Department officials from time to time. Awareness programmes should be organised to sensitize forest dwellers on KFD.

District Health and Forest Welfare officer Jagadish said that currently there is no situation of panic in the district.

District Vector Borne Disease Control officer Dr Shivakumar elaborated that the viruses which spread KFD thrive in the blood of ticks.

The virus spreads when the carrier ticks, after sucking the blood of the infected animals, bite other animals or human beings. The disease is not contagious among human beings.

Fever persisting for more than a week and severe headache, pain in hands, legs and waist, sore eyes are the symptoms of the disease. In serious cases, there will be bleeding from the mouth and nose.