Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jan 9: The corpse of a monkey with blood oozing out of its ear was found lying at Siddapur in the taluk on Tuesday January 8. In the light of six people having died of monkey fever, which is also known as Kyasanur Forest Disease, in the neighbouring Shivamogga district, the people in the region are now worried over the spread of this disease here.

The lifeless body of a four-year-old female monkey was found in the backside of Shankar Yadiyala's residence near JMJ Garage in Siddapur village. The family members informed panchayat development officer of the local gram panchayat. He in turn, conveyed the information to forest and health departments.

Vulnerable Disease Laboratory in the state is located only in Shivamogga. Entomologist of the laboratory, Dr Mukta, collected the viscera samples of the monkey and the lice for testing.

Veterinary officer of Shankaranarayana conducted postmortem of the animal in the presence of officials and the general public after which its body was confined to flames.                

District health officer, Dr Rohini, has asked the people not to panic. She said that the samples were sent for testing in view of the disease having surfaced in neighbouring Sagar taluk in Shivamogga district. She said that all doubts will be cleared once test result is received. In the meanwhile, she advised people affected by fever to go to the nearest hospital immediately and take abundant care if fever persists for over ten to 15 days. She also asked people to stay away from forests, not to let their pets into the forest, and not to kill monkeys out of suspicion.

Incidence of monkey fever had surfaced in Udupi district for the first time in 1989. As this disease has now been detected in nearby Shivamogga district, medical officers opine that the prospects of the disease spreading into this district cannot be totally ruled out.