Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 29: As several people from Sagar taluk in Shivamogga district have been infected with monkey fever, there is concern among people living near the forest region in the district about this disease, as they have been coming across dead monkeys with each passing day. As of now, 24 patients are being treated for monkey fever in KMC Hospital Manipal.

On Monday, mortal remains of a monkey each were found lying in Alur, Palli and Irvathur villages. Two more bodies were found from Belve near Kundapur while three three others were found at Hebri.

Health department officials said that two persons, one each from Kirimanjeshwar and Kokkarne villages, had been tested for monkey fever. Out of them, the man from Kokkarne has been tested negative, and the other report is awaited.

After getting the report that two dead monkeys were found near Badagudde Anganwadi near Hebri and Badagudde colony, the health department officials went there. They conducted scrutiny and sent samples to Shivamogga and Manipal for testing. As the three bodies found from Belve and Alur were decomposed, their samples were not taken for testing.

Hebri gram panchayat president, H K Sudharkar, panchayat development officer, Vijay, and village accountant, Ganesh, visited the spot. Medical officer of Hebri community health centre, Dr Narasimha Nayak, veterinary officer, Parashuram, and forest department officials also visited the area. The officials have asked the people not to panic.They said that there is no cause of worry in respect of monkeys found dead in Mudrady and Shivapura areas as there is no suspicion of these monkeys having been infected with the said disease. A monkey found in Badagudde area was electrocuted and it has been treated. The health officials said that deceased monkeys should not be shifted from their spot, and the people can play a major role by keeping the departments informed whenever they come across mortal remains of monkeys.