VALPOI: Three years after the monkey fever scare hit Valpoi, the community health centre is now prepared to tackle the Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) when cases arise.
Cases are likely to trickle in after two months, coinciding with cashew season. Dr Gajanan Naik, health officer at Valpoi Community health centre, said, “We have planned advocacy programmes and medical camps in the villages that recorded KFD cases.”
In 2015, the first KFD case was detected at Pali village in Sattari. Since then, locals are afraid to visit the forest to tend to cashew orchards and for cattle grazing.
Naik said that villagers are being given tips on how to protect themselves from tick bites. Also people in KFD hit areas have been vaccinated.
In the last season from November 2016 to May 2017, as many as 88 cases were reported at Valpoi CHC whereas for from November 2017 to May 2018, 57 cases were detected.
Dr Naik said that the vaccination drives as well as advocacy programmes have helped reduce KFD cases. Villagers were also provided with tick repellent oil.
