The scanty rain the district received last year and the extreme weather conditions prevailing this summer have increased the risk of epidemics. A total number of 12 positive cases of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever, 30 cases of dengue, 10 cases of chikungunya and 8 cases of malaria have been reported in the district in 2016 so far. Also, one person died of KFD in Hosanagar taluk last month.
Vaccination drive
KFD is a tick-borne viral infection that spreads from monkeys to humans. The Department of Health and Family Welfare had undertaken a drive to administer vaccines to people in areas vulnerable to KFD in December 2015. The department had also administered an additional dose of the vaccine to the people in February 2016. Even after the intense vaccination drive, it was not possible to control the spread of the disease owing to climatic factors.
S.K. Kiran, Field Medical Officer of the department, told The Hindu that the ticks that spread KFD are still in the nymph stage when they bite humans. The rain then hastens the transition of the nymphs into adults. Once the district receives pre-monsoon rain, the pace of the spread of KFD slows down, he said.
Deficiency in rainfall
The deficiency of rainfall is the main cause for the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya. Rivers and streams have dried up and the groundwater level has also declined, due to which many villages are gripped with severe drinking water problems. Water is being provided to residents of villages in the arid pockets of Shikaripur, Sorab, Shivamogga and Bhadravati taluks once in three days. This has forced people to store water indiscriminately and unscientifically, in containers that become fertile grounds for mosquito breeding.
Contaminated water
In Udri-Vaddigeri Grama Panchayat limits in Sorab taluk, 80 people were treated for fever and headache in the second week of April. Of these, two were tested positive for dengue. The larva of Aedes aegypti mosquito, that spreads dengue, was found in the water stored in the containers of many houses there. In Bhadrapur village in Sorab taluk, 20 people had fallen ill after drinking contaminated water in the first week of April. The taluk administration immediately ordered that a borewell be dug for the village so as to ensure supply of clean drinking water.
Rajesh Suragihalli, District Health Officer, told The Hindu that even though positive cases of KFD, dengue and chikungunya are reported regularly in the district, the situation was under control.
There was deficiency in rainfall last year and so far, the district hasn’t received pre-monsoon showers, owing to which there is a risk of outbreak of epidemics.
The department, through Accredited Social Health Activists, has created awareness among the people on the measures to be taken to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. These measures include cleaning water containers regularly and avoiding water clogging in the vicinity of their houses. In addition to this, halogen tablets are being provided to the people in villages gripped by drinking water problems, to purify the water, he said.
KFD is a tick-borne viral infection that spreads from monkeys to humans
Preventive measures
Wash containers used for storing water regularly
Ensure there is no water logging in the vicinity
Use halogen tablets to stored purify water before consumption
