A 29-year-old man in Karnataka has tragically lost his life, after contracting Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), commonly known as monkey fever, bringing fresh attention to a disease that often goes unnoticed until it turns fatal. The man from Tirthahalli taluk died in a hospital in Udupi district on January 28.“This is an unusual and unfortunate case, as usually, if KFD is detected within a week of contraction, the survival rate is close to 100%. In his case, our officers immediately picked him up after symptoms were reported, and KFD was confirmed within one day, and the referral happened quickly. He was stable until a couple of days ago,” Gurudatta Hegde, commissioner, health department, told TOI.It is important to understand the symptoms and the nature of the infection. For this we connected with Dr. Aishwarya R, Consultant – Infectious Diseases, Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore. “Despite its name, Monkey Fever does not spread directly from monkeys to humans. The fever is transmitted through the vector Haemaphysalis spinigera, a forest tick, and other animals, which are sources of infection, include squirrels and rats. The infection spreads to humans from the bite of nymphs (immature form) of the ticks or contact with sick or dead infected monkeys. However, the fever does not transmit from human-to-human contact. The incidence of this fever usually begins in October or November and peaks between January and April,” says Dr. Aishwarya R. The doctor says humans can contract KFD through tick bites, handling animals without protection and exposure to areas where infected monkeys have died.

KFD symptoms

“The fever is typically characterised by chills and a pounding headache, followed by bleeding from the nose, throat, and gums. Symptoms usually appear 3–8 days. Some of the other symptoms associated with monkey fever include low blood pressure and decreased platelet and blood counts. The neurological symptoms associated with the fever include nausea, vomiting, muscle stiffness, mental disorder, tremors, poor vision, severe headache and poor reflexes,” says the doctor.“The case fatality rate ranges from 2–10%, depending on early detection and access to healthcare. Most patients recover fully with appropriate medical support. With rising cases in Karnataka’s forest districts, awareness about Monkey Fever is vital. Prompt reporting of monkey deaths, early medical attention for fever after forest exposure, and strict adherence to preventive measures can help curb the spread and reduce mortality from this serious yet preventable disease,” says the Bengaluru based doctor and urges public to avoid forest areas during outbreak seasons, wear full-sleeved clothing and use tick repellents and not touch dead monkeys or animals. There is no specific treatment for monkey fever. However, it is recommended to seek immediate medical attention to manage the condition. The patients are generally given intravenous fluid therapy to replace lost fluids, and necessary protective measures are also taken to prevent and control hemorrhagic bleeding. The doctor advises the patient suffering from fever to take complete rest, adequate hydration and eating a diet rich in proteins may also be helpful.Medical experts consulted This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by: Dr. Aishwarya R, Consultant – Infectious Diseases, Aster RV HospitalInputs were used to explain KFD, its symptoms and preventive measures.