In Indethis year 2022, the State of Maharashtra reported 9 cases of Kyasanur Forest Fever (KFD), also known as monkey fever (unrelated to monkeypox !), in the district de Sindhudurg. About 864 blood samples blood samples were tested from January until July 20 and 9 cases were detected.
According to the state government’s public health department, KFD cases in Maharashtra have been reported mostly in the mountain range of Western Ghats (Sahyadri). According to the state entomologist, the cases are detected in this area mainly due to the higher number of monkeys in this area.
In 2021, 7 cases and one death had been reported in the same region of Maharashtra.
Reminders on the Kyasanur Forest Fever
The Kyasanur Forest Fever is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic fever endemic to the Indian subcontinent. In India, it is endemic in the south of the country.
The disease is caused by a virus belonging to the genus Flavivirusof the family of Flaviviridae. Reservoir hosts for the disease are porcupines, monkeys, rats and mice. The disease is transmitted by a tick belonging to the species Haemophysalis spinigera (forest tick). Humans acquire the infection from a tick bite. The disease has a high morbidity rate in the region, around 10%.
The clinical manifestations of the disease in humans are high fever, headache, vomiting and hemorrhage from the nasal cavity and throat.
Monkeys, rodents, shrews and other animals can be hosts for Kyasanur Forest hemorrhagic fever virus. The virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. Most cases are reported in rural and forest areas during the dry season: November-June.
Source : Promed.
