PONDA: After creating panic among villagers of Valpoi in Sattari taluka, the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever, has now reached Savoi Verem in Ponda taluka.
Health officials have detected one positive case in Savoi Verem. “This is the first KFD positive case in Ponda taluka,” said Dr Utkarsh Bethodkar, an epidemiologist attached to the Directorate of Health Services (DHS).
Dr Bethodkar said that a female from Veluswada in Savoi Verem area has been found to be KFD positive. She is presently being administered treatment at health centre. Blood report of the patient, which was received by the health department on Wednesday, has confirmed the case to be KFD positive, said an official from the health department.
Considering this case, the health department is taking safety measures and the precautionary vaccination drive has been started in the area. Around 195 people from Veluswada have been vaccinated against the disease and the programme will continue in the coming days, said Bethodkar.
According to veterinary officer Dr Mohan Umarye, monkey deaths have been rising in Savoi Verem since the last month. He said that monkeys have been found dead in groups. Last month, the animal husbandry department came across cases of six monkeys dying in the area, while this week, one such case has come to light. Dr Umarye said that the locals should take extra care while dealing with animals.
Kyasanur Forest Disease is a tick-borne viral infection that spreads from monkeys to humans. Transmission of the disease to humans may occur after an infected tick bite or contact with an infected animal.
Dr Umarye has urged the locals to be wary of ticks on their pets and cattle that roam in forest areas. “There are high chances of infected ticks reaching households through dogs and cattle. Usually people ignore the symptoms of KFD, thinking that since they have not visited any forest, the infected ticks cannot reach them,” he said.
