Kyasanur Forest disease • Karnataka • Fever
BREAKIN NEWS.....
Karnataka: First case of Kyasanur Forest disease reported this year
Bangalore, January 9, 2024: The Karnataka health department has reported the first case of Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) this year. The patient, a 27-year-old plantation worker, is from Halasoor village in Chikkamagaluru district. He was admitted to a local hospital on January 21 with fever, headache, and muscle pain. He tested positive for KFD on January 23.
KFD is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to the Western Ghats region of India. The disease is caused by Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV), which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks.
The symptoms of KFD typically appear within 3 to 8 days of being bitten by an infected tick. The initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, and nausea. In some cases, the disease can progress to a more serious form, with bleeding, neurological problems, and death.
There is no specific treatment for KFD. Treatment is supportive and includes rest, fluids, and medication to relieve symptoms. The case fatality rate for KFD is 3 to 10%.
The Karnataka health department has initiated preventive measures to control the spread of KFD. These measures include:
- Providing information to the public about the disease and how to prevent it.
- Carrying out house-to-house surveys in affected areas to identify and remove ticks.
- Distributing insect repellents and protective clothing to people at risk.
The health department is also working to develop a vaccine against KFD.