A FATAL ‘monkey fever’ that causes brain damage, vomiting and bleeding has killed at least two people in Southern India.
Another 49 have been infected by the Kyasanur Forest Disease [KFD], which is understood to be spreading fast after being traced back to three separate districts just south of Goa.
GettyKyasanur Forest Disease spreads via ticks to humans from infected monkeys[/caption]
One in ten of those infected with KFD will die
Victims are infected by the virus, which is from the same family as yellow and dengue fever, through ticks – which carry the bug from sick monkeys to humans.
The new outbreak has so far claimed the lives of an 18-year-old girl from the Shivamogga district and a 79-year-old man, from the Udupi district.
Some 34 cases have been reported in Uttara Kannada district followed by 12 in Shivamogga and the remaining three in Chikkamagaluru district, reported news agency PTI.
KFDV, often nicknamed ‘monkey fever’ was first discovered in 1957 in a sick monkey from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka, India.
Since then, up to 500 people are reportedly infected with the bug each year – usually those who work near or in the forest.
These frequent outbreaks are the result of more forests being ripped down, which increases the risk of human-animal-tick contact.
Dr Niraj, district health officer of Uttara Kannada district, has warned people not to enter the forest areas near where people have fallen ill with the disease.
“Those who have to go to the forest are provided with repellent oil that is applied to the exposed parts of the body, such as the legs and arms,” he said.
“After returning, they should be washed properly,” he added.
Vaccination treatment is reported to have begun in the villages where the virus originated.
Symptoms to know
Other than high fever, symptoms of the disease include headaches, bleeding from the nasal cavity and throat and confusion.
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these symptoms usually manifest between three and eight days of infection.
“Severe muscle pain with vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms and bleeding problems may occur three to four days after initial symptom onset,” it says.
Patients may also experience “abnormally low blood pressure” and reduced red and white blood cell count.
The CDC says some patients recover within one and two weeks without complication, but ten to 20 per cent experience a “second wave of symptoms”.
It says: “These symptoms include fever and signs of neurological manifestations, such as severe headache, mental disturbances, tremors, and vision deficits.”
For up to one in ten infected KFD, the virus will be fatal.
How to avoid KMD
Travellers heading to Southern India should take precautions when visiting affected forests or nearby areas.
There is no cure for KMD, but there are several ways to prevent getting bitten by an infected tick:
Use insect repellents on exposed skin and clothing to deter ticks from biting.
Wear full-sleeved shirts, long pants tucked into socks, and closed shoes to minimise skin exposure when venturing into tick-infested areas.
Stay on cleared trails and avoid walking through wooded or grassy areas where ticks are commonly found.
Tick checks are important for family members and pets after outdoor activities.
Ticks often attach themselves in hard-to-spot areas such as the scalp, groin, and armpits
Source: WedMD