KYASANUR
FOREST DISEASE – SCI & TECH
News:
Kyasanur Forest Disease:
The assault of the tick
What's
in the news?
●
Since January 1, the Karnataka Department
of Health and Family Welfare has conducted 2,567 tests and 68 people have been
found positive.
Kyasanur
Forest Disease:
●
It is a zoonotic disease.
●
The disease was first reported in Kyasanur
Forest of Karnataka, in 1957, hence
it is known as Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD).
●
It is also known as “monkey disease/monkey fever” because of its association with
monkey deaths.
States
Affected:
●
This virus has spread along the entire
stretch of the Western Ghats region,
which also includes Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa.
Symptoms:
●
Sudden onset of high-grade fever, prostration, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and
occasionally neurological & haemorrhagic manifestations.
Transmission:
●
It is transmitted through the bite of ticks & bonnets and
black-faced langur monkeys are highly susceptible to the infection.
●
They play a significant role in the spread
of the virus in the human population.
Treatment:
●
No
specific treatment for KFD is available, however, prompt
symptomatic and supportive therapy, including maintenance of hydration,
hemodynamic stability, and management of neurological symptoms, decreases
morbidity and mortality.