Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jan 12: The recovery of a decomposed carcass of a monkey inside Marashi thicket within the limits of Kandlur gram panchayat here has given rise to concern about the possibility of spread of monkey fever in the taluk.

The lifeless animal's corpse had been found inside the thicket owned by Franklin D'Sa, a local. After he informed the gram panchayat, the information in turn was passed on to forest and health departments, seeking action from their end.

In the presence of taluk health officer, Dr Nagabhushan Udupa, Kandlur primary health centre medical officer, Lata Naik, and Neralakatte forest officials, the body was cremated. Dr Udupa said that the body of the monkey was completely decomposed and hence its parts could not be collected for testing. Therefore, the corpse was disposed off without postmortem, he said. He also stated that he had information about recovery of the lifeless body of another monkey near Kandlur and that he would visit the spot on Saturday morning to take suitable steps.

With the increasing incidents of death of monkeys in the town and several areas in the taluk, the people are increasingly been concerned about the possibility of monkey fever spreading to these areas. The fact that no diagnosis is possible in case of recovery of decomposed carcasses has been making them more worrisome.

The health and forest department officials too are now needed to visit different places on recovery of dead monkeys and to take steps. In the meantime, it is gathered that a monkey died on Friday at Halkal near Kollur in an accident involving a vehicle.