Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga (MS)
Shivamogga, Jan 6: Two more people died because of Monkey fever in Sagar of the district. In addition, the death of monkeys is continuing at several places in the taluk of Sagar in the district.
Ramavva (56), resident of Kanchikai village of Barangi Hobali under the limits of Aralagodu gram panchayat, who had lost her son Manjunath four days ago, due to monkey fever, died on the night of Friday, January 4. In addition Shweta Jain (17), resident of Jeegala died on Saturday, January 5.
Ramavva was running high fever from the day her son died. She was admitted to Meggan hospital of the city. But the treatment did not yield any recovery. Shweta Jain, daughter of Devraj and Lata couple, residents of Jeegala was being treated at Sahyadri Narayana Hridayalaya for high fever also died on Saturday. Shweta was studying in Sagar and took ill after she arrived to her hometown of Jeegala. In total seven people have died because of monkey fever in the taluk of Sagar so far.
DMOs of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts alert public on monkey fever
The public of the twin districts of DK and Udupi have to take precautions against the monkey fever as the disease is spreading rapidly in the region of Malnad. Steps are being taken to prevent the onset of disease in the people living near forest and hills.
DMO of Mangaluru, Dr Ramakrishna Rao and DMO of Udupi, Dr Rohini said that seven people have died due to monkey fever in Sagar of Shivamogga district but so far no cases are reported from the twin districts.
Flavivirus which is responsible for this fever is seen in rats, rodents, squirrels and monkeys. When the leeches on the monkeys which die of monkey fever bite the human beings, it spreads to the concerned person. In addition, the leeches also suck the blood of cattle and through that also the monkey fever reaches human beings. As the leeches are active in the period of January to June, precautions need to be taken
Symptoms of monkey fever
High fever, body pain, head ache, bleeding from nose, mouth and any other parts of the body. After fever for one or two weeks, encephalitis, fever, tightness of the throat, head ache and vomiting is noticed.
"Awareness about the monkey fever will be done through meeting with public in areas of Kundapur and Hebri. If people come across death of monkey, the same should be informed to the health department immediately," said the DMO of Udupi district.
Precautions to be taken against monkey fever
*Leeches are the root cause of the spread of this disease. Caution should be taken while working near the cattle or in the forest or farmland
*Medicine to kill the leeches should be sprayed
*It is better to provide fodder to the cattle in the shed itself than allowing them to graze
*Do not venture in forests and bushy areas. If unavoidable then wearing of boots, clothes full covering the body and hat is mandatory. Once returning from these areas should have bath immediately
*If dead monkeys are noticed, the same should be brought to the notice of the concerned immediately
*Do not neglect any fever. Contact the physician at the earliest and take proper treatment