A 69-year-old woman from Chikkamagaluru district has become the first reported death from Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever, in the region this year. The woman succumbed to the viral infection on March 15, after her health rapidly declined.
The woman, a resident of Kattinamane in N.R. Pura taluk, had traveled to her son’s residence in Melpal, where she began experiencing high fever. On March 13, she was admitted to the government hospital in Koppa, where laboratory tests confirmed KFD infection. She was subsequently placed in the hospital’s dedicated KFD ward.
As her condition worsened, doctors transferred her to a hospital in Manipal, Udupi district. Unfortunately, she passed away on the night of March 15 while en route to the hospital.
Ashwath Prabhu, the District Health Officer of Chikkamagaluru, reported that the woman had multiple underlying health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. Her condition deteriorated further due to a significant drop in her platelet count.
Since January, Chikkamagaluru has reported 46 cases of KFD, with all patients recovering, except for six who are still undergoing treatment. This incident marks the first fatality linked to the disease in the district this year.
Kyasanur Forest Disease is transmitted through tick bites and is commonly found in forested areas where humans may come into contact with infected ticks, particularly those visiting forests for activities such as grazing cattle or collecting firewood. The disease is named after the Kyasanur Forest region in Karnataka, where the virus was first identified.
Health authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and are urging individuals in affected areas to take precautions to avoid tick exposure.
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