State Govt announces free treatment for all monkey fever patients

State Govt announces free treatment for all monkey fever patients

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, February 16, 2025: In a significant move to combat Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), commonly known as monkey fever, the Karnataka government has extended free treatment to all patients, including those from Above Poverty Line (APL) families. Previously, this facility was limited to families below the poverty line (BPL).

"Members of APL families affected by KFD will now receive free treatment at hospitals registered under the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust. This initiative will benefit hundreds of families," announced Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Saturday.

The government is also accelerating efforts to develop a vaccine for KFD, with research underway at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). According to the minister, the first phase of trials has shown promising results, and human trials are set to begin in April 2025. "If all goes well, the vaccine will be available by 2026," he added.

KFD, a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic disease, has been spreading rapidly across the Malnad and coastal regions of Karnataka, as well as in states bordering the Western Ghats. The disease, caused by a Flavivirus, has a fatality rate of 3% to 15%, significantly higher than dengue’s 2.6%.

Experts attribute the spread of KFD to environmental factors such as deforestation, changing land use, and deficient rainfall. The disease follows a seasonal pattern, peaking during summer and subsiding with the onset of monsoons.

Since 2003, at least 59 people have succumbed to the disease, with delayed treatment often leading to severe complications, including multiple organ failure. The state government’s initiative aims to curb fatalities and provide timely care to affected families.