Six monkeys found dead, KFD fear grips Kundapur taluk

The fear of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) has gripped Kundapur taluk after six monkeys were found dead with blood oozing out of their ears in Siddapura, Hosangadi and Shiroor villages on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the first reported case, a four-year old female monkey was found dead inside the compound of one Shankar Madiwala in Siddapura village on Tuesday. While another monkey which was found dead in the same village was cremated by the villagers and hence no autopsy was done.

Madiwala, after spotting the dead monkey, informed the health department officials and an entomologist from district surveillance laboratory visited the spot and collected the samples and sent it to Viral Diagnostic Laboratory in Shivamogga.

On Wednesday, a monkey was found dead in Shiroor. While another monkey which had died in the village has been cremated by the villagers and hence no autopsy was done.

Dr Dinakar Shetty, assistant director, veterinary hospital, Shankaranarayana, said that two monkeys had died in Hosangadi and autopsy was conducted on Wednesday.

With the disease claiming the lives of six people in the neighboring Shivamogga district, people in Kundapur taluk are now living in fear.

District Health Officer Dr Rohini said that there was no need to panic. “Once the result of the samples, sent from here is available, the prevalence of the KFD can be confirmed.” She appealed to the villagers not to neglect fever and visit the nearby hospital for treatment.