Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 21: Most of the people affected by monkey fever, also known as Kyasanur Forest Disease or KFD, are from poor families living near the forests of Sagar and Sorab taluks of Shivamogga district. There have been many cases where the patients opted to get treated in government hospitals because of the cost factor. Manipal hospital has the facility to treat them but the government was not meeting the treatment expenses here since sometime.

During this year alone, about 50 persons suffering from this disease got admitted into Manipal hospital. After the plights of the patients afflicted by the disease were raised in the assembly, arrangements to meet their expenses were made since March 16. Health department additional chief secretary has instructed the district health officer of Shivamogga to clear pending bill relating to previous years of KMC Hospital Manipal and to refer cases of patients for free treatment to them. District heath officer spoke to the hospital and said that the government will meet the treatment expenses of monkey fever patients.

As per information, a previous due of Rs 18.5 lac is pending payment to KMC Hospital. During the year 2019, 421 cases were referred to this hospital out of which 210 were positive. As many as 18 died. Shivamogga district health officer said that steps are being taken to clear the pending bills and the department will soon arrange for the same.

Shivamogga distrcit health officer Dr Rajesh Surgihalli, said that discussions have been held with the KMC Hospital management and medical officers were deputed to that hospital. He said that from Friday onward, treatment expenses have been paid into the account of the hospital. He said that arrangement will be made to reimburse charges to patients who have earlier met their own bills.

District surveillance officer in health department Udupi, Dr Vasudev, said that monkey fever does not prevail in Udupi district. He said that carcasses of monkeys found from certain places were subjected to tests and the reports have been negative. He asked people coming across dead monkeys to immediately pass on this information to health department or primary health centres.