Second KFD testing laboratory to come up in Sirsi soon: Dinesh Gundu Rao

The Health Department is set to establish another Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) testing laboratory at Sirsi of Uttara Kannada district to strengthen early detection and control of the disease, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Wednesday.

Speaking after a review meeting with senior health officials on preventive and preparedness measures against KFD, commonly known as monkey fever, the Minister said that while a laboratory is currently functioning in Shivamogga, the rising testing load has necessitated the setting up of an additional facility. All required equipment has been procured, and the Sirsi laboratory is expected to become operational shortly.

Quicker diagnosis

Mr. Rao said the new laboratory would benefit residents of Sirsi, Siddapur and surrounding areas by enabling quicker diagnosis, which, in turn, would help reduce mortality to zero. KFD cases typically rise between October and June each year, particularly in forested regions of Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru and Udupi districts, he said.

He said the Health department was fully prepared to control the spread of the disease, with regular and systematic screening being conducted in vulnerable areas. So far, preventive testing had been carried out on 1,163 people in Shivamogga, 124 in Chikkamagaluru, 368 in Uttara Kannada and 12 in Udupi. Of these, 13 persons tested positive for KFD and all had recovered following timely treatment.

Referral hospitals

Mr. Rao said Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, SIMS Shivamogga and KRIMS Karwar have been designated as referral hospitals. In addition, doctors in government hospitals have been trained to handle KFD cases, and treatment facilities have been strengthened at taluk hospitals in Thirthahalli, Sagar, Siddapur, Honnavar, Koppa and N.R. Pura.

Patients who recover after receiving treatment in the early stages of the disease are kept under continuous medical surveillance by the Health Department for a further 21 days. All KFD patients will be provided free ambulance services and complete treatment, the Minister said.

Stressing that there should not be a single death due to KFD this season, the Minister said medicines and medical preparedness were being put in place well in advance. He added that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is conducting clinical trials of a new vaccine, which could be made available to the public within a year.