The Department of Forest organised a workshop cum meeting to highlight the issues concerned with KFD Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) also known as ‘monkey fever’ prevailing in the forest areas of Goa as a part of Civil Service Day.
Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) has been reportedly infecting the people living near forest areas.
The meeting was organised by Forest Department at Valpoi in Sattari to deliberate on the issues and allay the fear in the minds of the people on KFD prevailing in the State. The meeting was attended by HOD’s in the State, recently.
Dr. Utkarsh Betodkar through a presentation stated that KFD is not transmitted person to person but by tick bite. He informed that in 2015, 36 people were detected to be positive while in 2016 – 279 cases were reported positive and in 2017 as on April 25, 76 people were found positive.
The doctor emphasised the need to create awareness on vaccination which is crucial and necessary to prevent the disease. The dose schedule should be followed. The third dose will boost immunity which will last for a year, the doctor maintained.
Goa has started KFD vaccination from March 2016 wherein 8597 people have taken the 1st dose, 3133 people have taken the second dose and only 981 people have taken 3rd dose. One has to take a yearly booster dose till the disease prevails in the area, he remarked.
Dr. Betodkar said “most people take only the first dose. Once their fear for the disease goes, very few come back for taking the second and third dose”.
Dr. Betodkar stressed that Government has taken every initiative to address, create awareness and eradicate the disease. The aim is not to leave any suspected outbreaks unattended, he remarked.
The meet expressed concern with the awareness and the lack of participation of people for vaccination. The officials felt that it is necessary that people come forward for vaccination to prevent the disease.
Members were of the view that there is an immediate need of keeping an eye on the unnatural death of monkeys and urged the people to cooperate with health authorities and get them vaccinated for its prevention.
The members and participants along with the officials of Forest Department also visited Hivare and Rive village forest areas – the places 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.
The Conservator of Forest, Mahesh Kumar Shambhu pointed that the role of Forest Department is extremely crucial in detection of KFD as monkey carcasses in the forest are first indicators of suspected KFD virus infection in the area.
Informally speaking Shambhu said that disposal of carcasses are done in a scientific way and this is being done in all the wild life areas of Goa. Forest Department is keeping an eye on unnatural death of monkeys. He appreciated the efforts taken by the forest staff and work done by them.
Shambhu stated that we can neither eliminate monkeys completely nor ticks. Therefore vaccination is the best ways to keep ourselves safe.
The members also deliberated on the issue of transmission of diseases and measures to be initiated for eradicating it in various parts of the State.
Dr. Niceta C Costa also presented the post mortem report of KFD infected monkeys.
Deputy Conservator of Forest, Wildlife and Eco Tourism (North), Dr. Anil Kumar(IFS), Prakash Salelkar (RFO) as-well-as Heads of Departments and other Government Officials were present on the occasion.
Team TNV
