Monkey Fever claims two lives in Maharashtra

Two persons from Banda village in Maharashtra died of Monkey Fever or Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) last week, spreading panic in the Western Ghat region.

Cashew-nut farmers Diwakar Morye (67) and Vithu Kharvat (70) succumbed to the disease in Banda, which falls in Sawantwadi block of Sindhudurg district. Morye was admitted to the Banda Primary Health Centre (PHC) with symptoms of fever and loose motion on February 8. He died on February 14 at the Goa General Medical College. Kharvat was being treated on an out-patient basis at the PHC from February 4 onward. He died at home five days later.

"Kharvat took discharge against medical advice and went home," said Dr YR Sale, district health officer in Sindhudurg.

Between January and May, forest ticks are in the third-stage of their growth, also referred to as the 'nymph,' phase, and are the most potent. They host Flavivirus and feed on monkey blood. "Forest ticks breed on monkeys, and bite and infect them. Once monkeys start getting dehydration, they migrate towards water bodies like ponds and rivers," said a senior district official.

After the monkey dies, forest ticks leave the host and scatter in water-bodies or settle on grass. Farmers venture into jungles or in plantations and get bitten by the ticks. "Most farmers barely have any clothes on their body. Monkey fever is caused when such ticks bite humans," he explained.

The symptoms start manifesting a week after the tick bite. Since January, Maharashtra has recorded 42 cases of Monkey Fever from 35 villages in two blocks of Dodamarg and Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg district. Last year, 125 cases were recorded in the region, and seven people died.

In the beginning of this year, district officials had picked up four dead monkeys in the area that had suspected infections. Over 2,700 villagers were vaccinated against KFD in December last year and January this year. The vaccine has close to 62 per cent efficacy, which means that of the 100 persons vaccinated, 62 will receive full immunity against the virus, and the rest will still be susceptible. Of all persons affected by KFD, 3 per cent to 10 per cent will die, research shows.

The state is gearing up to tackle the beginning of yet another scourge of Monkey Fever.

"All sites within hundred metres of the monkey's death is dusted with Maliathone powder. Also, 100 ml bottles of Dimethyl phthalate oil have been distributed to villagers. It is an insect-repellent oil. Villagers are advised to venture out after applying the repellent oil on their body, except the face," said Dr Satish Pawar, Director, Health Services, Maharashtra.

The disease was first reported in Kyasanur Forest of Karnataka in 1957. "In the past few years, cases were reported in Kerala, and later Goa before the border villages in Maharashtra," said Kale.