Mananthavadi: A tribal youth diagnosed with monkey fever died here Sunday. Sundaran (27) of the Kattikulam Begur Colony was undergoing treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College for the last 10 days. Currently, 6 cases of monkey fever have been reported from Wayanad. It is assumed that Sundaran had contracted the disease while working at the timber depot inside the Bavili woods. Earlier monkeys were reported falling dead in huge numbers here.
All those who have been diagnosed with the disease hail from the Thirunelli area. The disease was first diagnosed in those who went to the forest area in Karnataka in search of work. A person had died of the monkey fever at Bairakuppa in Karnataka which shares borders with Wayanad. In 2015, 11 people were reported dead in the district due to the disease. The health department has issued a high alert notice in the area.
How does monkey fever spread?
Monkey fever or Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a tick borne viral haemorrhagic fever. This virus is mostly found in small mammals, monkeys and some avian species. The virus gets transferred into the human body from the ticks that are seen on the animals' bodies.
Though this disease is usually found in monkeys, humans too could get affected through tick bites. Severe fever on alternate days, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, lesions on the skin is some of the symptoms of monkey fever in humans.
One should avoid contact with the monkeys affected with the disease or refrain from travelling to places where they are present in huge numbers. Cattle owners and those who own pet dogs, living in the border areas, should take preventive medicines as instructed by a doctor.
