Team Herald
PANJIM: Following the death of two women due to the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever last month, the State Forest Department is keeping a close watch on unnatural deaths of monkeys, which is the first indicator of suspected KFD virus.
Conservator of Forests, Mahesh Kumar Shambhu, said the role of Forest Department is extremely crucial in the detection of KFD as monkey carcasses in forests is the first indicator of suspected KFD virus infection in the area.
“As such the Forest Department is keeping an eye on unnatural death of monkeys. We are closely monitoring the situation,” he said. Shambhu said that once a monkey is found dead, the disposal of the carcass are done in a scientific manner in the wild. “We can neither eliminate monkeys completely nor ticks. Therefore vaccination is the best ways to keep ourselves safe,” he said.
Goa started KFD vaccination from March 2016 wherein 8597 people have taken the first dose. Some 3133 people have taken the second dose and only 981 people have taken the third dose. One has to take an annual booster dose as long as the disease prevails in the area.
The Health and Forest departments have begun a joint awareness campaign in Sattari which has reported two fatalities due to KFD.
During the awareness drive on Wednesday, members and participants, along with Forest Department officials visited Hivare and Rive village forest areas, where monkeys were detected with KFD and were burned. They also met KFD infected patients at CHC Valpoi and acquainted themselves with the measures taken by the Forest Department and Health Department.
