Bengaluru: Karnataka has reported its first death from Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) this year, with 95 positive cases counted in the state so far.
A 60-year-old woman from NR Pura taluk, Chikkamagaluru, tested positive on Thursday and succumbed to cardiac arrest late Saturday night. While the tick-borne viral infection, commonly known as monkey fever, continues to spread, health officials are trying to prevent further fatalities.
The state health department has ramped up surveillance and treatment efforts. Of the 95 cases reported this year, Chikkamagaluru has accounted for 51 infections, followed by Shivamogga (43) and Uttara Kannada (1), according to official data.
Health department officials told TOI that the NR Pura taluk resident was admitted to hospital Thursday and tested positive for KFD the next day. However, the doctors couldn’t revive her.
Dr Ansar Ahmed, project director of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), said, “Last year, we saw 13 deaths, and we feared the numbers could rise again. So, we decided to not take any chances.”
“We hold daily reviews with nodal officers, epidemiologists, and district health officials. Serious cases are closely monitored, and if a patient’s platelet count drops below 1,10,000, they are shifted to the ICU immediately. Treatment is made free for APL patients also to ensure no one is left helpless,” he added.
“People still rely on forests for their livelihood, increasing the risk of infection. While we cannot stop it, we can only stop the cases from becoming fatal. We are actively trying to spread awareness as well so that we can try to combat the rise of cases,” Dr Ahmed explained. “But thanks to early detection, treatment, and awareness campaigns, we managed to save eight critical patients.”
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New vaccine expected by 2026
The state is also looking at long-term solutions. Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao recently announced that a new KFD vaccine is likely to be available by 2026. The previously used vaccine, developed in 1979, was discontinued in July 2022 due to reduced efficacy. In response to Karnataka’s request, the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) assigned the Hyderabad-based Indian Immunologicals to develop a new vaccine. Early results have been promising, and if successful, it could be a game-changer in controlling KFD, noted the minister.
“Until then, the only way to prevent cases and fatalities is through coordinated multi-department efforts focusing on prevention and awareness,” a senior official told TOI.
