Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 27: The government, in an affidavit filed in the high court on Friday April 26, said that the intensity of monkey fever that has spread its tentacles in Malnad and coastal districts of Karntaaka, has come down from 22.75 percent to 5 .84 percent within three months.

The affidavit was filed with the division bench comprising acting Chief Justice, L Narayanaswamy and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar, which has been hearing a public interest petition filed by K P Shreepal, an advocate from Shivamogga. Deputy director of Virus Diagnostic Laboratory at Shimoga, Dr Kiran, who appeared before the bench, explained about various steps taken to prevent spread of monkey fever.

He said that preventive measures have been taken against monkey fever, also known as Kyasanur Forest Disease, in nine districts. He said that three persons died of this disease during February this year. "The intensity of the disease was 22.75 percent during December last. It has come down to 5.84 percent in March,"he stated.

The affidavit said that a total of 4,794 samples were collected and the laboratories at Shivamogga, Manipal, and Benglauru, have so far confirmed 353 cases during this year. In areas where this disease surfaced, 1,40,000 doses of vaccine and 50,180 bottles of DMP oil were distributed, and the department now holds a stock of 49,860 bottles of this oil.

The area of concern however, is the spread of this disease,which was earlier confirmed to malnad and coastal districts, to districts like Belagavi, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Hassan, the affidavit pointed out.