Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD)

Two individuals have died from Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) in Karnataka since the start of 2024.

WHAT IS KYASANUR FOREST DISEASE (KFD)?

About:

• Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), a zoonotic illness, is colloquially referred to as “monkey disease” due to its link with monkey fatalities.
• It is caused by the Kyasanur Forest disease Virus (KFDV), which primarily affects humans and monkeys.
• It was first identified in 1957 in a sick monkey from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka. Since then, between 400-500 human cases per year have been reported.
• Eventually, KFD emerged as a grave public health problem spreading through the entire Western Ghats.

Transmission:

• In nature, the virus is maintained mainly in hard ticks (Haemaphysalis spinigera), monkeys, rodents, and birds.
• To humans, it may occur after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal (a sick or recently dead monkey).

Symptoms:

• Characterized by chills, frontal headache, body ache, and high fever for five to 12 days with a case fatality rate of 3 to 5%.