KYASANUR FOREST DISEASE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, the discovery of dead monkeys prompted the forest department to collect samples for testing in order to rule out Kyasanur forest disease (KFD), a highly contagious illness causing febrile hemorrhagic symptoms in both humans and monkeys, particularly in forested areas.

Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD)

• About: It is caused by Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV), a member of the virus family Flaviviridae.
• First Identified: KFDV was identified in 1957 when it was isolated from a sick monkey from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka (formerly Mysore) State, India.
• Transmission: Humans may occur after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal, most importantly a sick or recently dead monkey. No person-to-person transmission has been described.
• Signs and Symptoms: Severe muscle pain with vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms and bleeding problems may occur 3-4 days after initial symptom onset.
• Treatment: There is no specific treatment for KFD,
• Endemic Regions of KFD: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala