Goa health department has pressed an emergency button asking all the officials to leave no stone unturned for creating awareness on monkey fever disease.

Health minister Vishwajit Rane chaired a meeting of higher officials in Panaji today during which he asked them to hit the ground and create awareness on taking the preventive doses.

Rane has himself decided to visit the villages infected with monkey fever disease.

Two women died at Goa Medical College and Hospital last week while several remains admitted in different government run hospitals due to ‘monkey fever’ outbreak in Sattari taluka and surrounding areas.

“I would be personally visiting Sattari taluka which also happens to be my constituency creating awareness about monkey fever disease,” Rane said.

Monkey Fever, also known as Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), has been prevalent in rural areas of Goa since last half a decade. Two deaths in one week has created panic amongst the locals.

Rane said though the State health authorities have provided enough doses to prevent the KFD, locals are irregular in taking it. “You have to take three doses as a preventive measure against KFD. But the people miss two doses after taking the first one. They have to be educated that the complete course needs to be taken,” the minister said.

Rane said he has asked the health department officials to visit the KFD affected areas and create awareness by taking along social service institutions, clubs and even local panchayat bodies.

“There is no shortage of medicines but people have to come forward to take it,” he said.

Team TNV