A month-long joint study by the Directorate of Health Services and a private institute finally made a breakthrough, declaring that the mystery illness was caused by tick bites, but the report which was in the possession of the directorate for the last three days, was kept under wraps.
Herald had broken the story on Tuesday over the silence of directorate on the mysterious deaths reported at Pali and the fear prevailing among villagers over inaction by the directorate.
State Epidemiologist Dr Utkarsha Betodkar on Monday informed Herald that the common detection fund in all the samples is of KFD, which is a tick borne disease which spreads through tick bite. “You cannot eliminate this disease but it can be controlled, tick bite control measures should be taken in the area of Pali,” Dr Betodkar recommended.
Directorate of Health Services will be conducting an awareness campaign in Pali village to take preventive measures from tick bites. Dr Betodkar said that the people should wear full sleeves shirt and long pants to prevent tick bites. The people should also check for ticks once they come from outdoors and remove them. He advised that if somebody is ill he/she should not go to the forest, and instead approach the nearby hospital immediately.
KFD infected people have very common symptoms of fever with vomiting, frontal headache, diarrhoea, followed by haemorrhagic symptoms such as bleeding from nasal cavity, throat and gums as well as gastrointestinal bleeding.
The Valpoi community health centre and Goa Medical College have been intimated by the DHS regarding the outbreak of KFD in Pali village and informed them to treat patients who come from that particular area accordingly.
“We have also informed the National Health and Family Welfare department, Government of India and National Centre for Disease Control, New Delhi. They may visit Goa shortly, as it is a rare disease,” Dr Betodkar said.
When contacted Dr Pradeep Naik, Dean of GMC, said that he will have to check with the professor of medicine whether GMC has treatment facility for KFD infected patients. He also said that vaccines for KFD are not available with GMC as it is a rare disease. According to medical experts the vaccine should be requested from NIB (National Institute of Biologicals) Pune.
