Elderly woman succumbs to Monkey Fever in Uttara Kannada; death toll rises to four

An elderly woman has tragically passed away from Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), commonly known as monkey fever, in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka.

The 60-year-old victim, hailing from Koorlakai village in Siddapur taluk, breathed her last at McGann Hospital in Shivamogga after battling the illness for three days. Her demise marks the fourth recorded death in the state attributed to the disease. She had been diagnosed with monkey fever 20 days prior.

Alarmingly, Siddapur taluk alone has reported 43 cases of the disease.

Across Karnataka, there are currently 103 active cases of monkey fever, with fatalities recorded in Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada, and Shivamogga districts. In response to the escalating concern, State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao convened a high-level meeting with legislators and officials from the affected districts.

Efforts are underway to combat the outbreak, with discussions held between the state government and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to expedite effective vaccination. Authorities remain optimistic about acquiring the vaccine promptly. Additionally, awareness campaigns are being conducted in regions where cases of the disease have been detected.

Kyasanur Forest Disease is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic illness that poses a fatal threat to humans and primates alike. Its onset is characterized by sudden symptoms such as chills, fever, and headache, followed by severe muscle pain, vomiting, gastrointestinal issues, and bleeding problems within three to four days.

(with inputs from IANS)