PANJIM: After Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever claimed the first life this year, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has asked the department to intensify the awareness campaign and the vaccination drive.

Rane called an emergency meeting on Wednesday to take stock of the situation. He said that it has been noticed that people are not taking the second dose and the necessary precautions.

Speaking to Herald he said that the health department will distribute tick repellent oil amongst the people. “The department will distribute DMP oil which is presently available in the PHCs. We will try and provide the oil in the village panchayats in the potential KFD areas where the disease is likely to spread,” he added.

He informed that the oil will prevent the ticks from being attracted to the people who visit the forests for their labour. The oil has been recommended and has been tested on a pilot basis and not shown any side effects and acts as a repellent.

Stating that the role of youth and self-help groups is important in carrying out the awareness campaign, the Health Minister said “I have emphasized that participation of women and youth is very important. Taking one dose will not help and all the three will have to be taken.”

He further informed that the awareness campaign will focus on the symptoms and the need to complete the vaccination dose cycle.

“People need to be informed that there is no harm in the injections and the second dose should be taken as per the schedule of the vaccination cycle”, he added.

On Monday, 45 years old Anupama Gawas succumbed to KFD at the Goa Medical College and Hospital. Of the 422 samples tested since January, 75 tested positive for KFD and are undergoing treatment.

In 2016, the department had tested 1942 people and 286 had tested positive and three deaths were reported in the Sattari taluka. However, this year KFD cases have been reported in the villages of Pernem taluka too.