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Source: The post is based on the article “Kyasanur forest disease: Study confirms its presence in 2 more Karnataka districts” published in “Indian Express” on 22nd November 2023
Why in the News?
A study by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV) has for the first time confirmed the presence of the Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) virus in two more districts of Karnataka.
What is Kyasanur forest disease (KFD)?
| Specifications | Details |
| Type | Zoonotic Disease |
| Caused by | Kyasanur Forest disease virus, a member of the virus family Flaviviridae. |
| Also known as | Monkey disease/ monkey fever because of its association with monkey deaths. |
| Transmission | It is transmitted through the bite of ticks and bonnet. Black-faced langur monkeys are highly susceptible to the infection. They play a significant role in the spread of the virus in the human population. |
| First identified in | Kyasanur forest in Karnataka in 1957 |
| Symptoms | Chills, frontal headache, body ache and high fever for five to 12 days. |
| Mortality rate | 2 to 10% |
| Diagnosis | Molecular detection by PCR or virus isolation from blood. |
| Treatment | There is no specific treatment for monkey fever. A vaccine (Formalin inactivated KFDV vaccine) does exist for KFD and is used in endemic areas of India. |
UPSC Syllabus: Diseases in News
