‘Dept. is preparing to vaccinate people if KFD virus found’
Udupi, Jan 22: As Kyasanur Forest Disease(KFD) virus have been traced in the carcass of monkeys found in nine villages in three taluks in the district so far, the health department is preparing to vaccinate all the villagers within 10 km radius of these nine villages, said KFD district nodal officer Dr. Prashanth Bhat.
As per the guidelines of the KFD, the people in the places where KFD virus have been found should be vaccinated, for which survey was being conducted in those villages. The survey report would be sent to the government shortly for its approval, he added.
As the KFD virus has already been found in nine villages, the vaccination being given as of now would not help much. The department would place the demand for required vaccination only after the government accepted the survey report.
In India, only National Institute of Virology of Puna has been developing the vaccination. After placing the order, it would take minimum one month to produce the vaccination. Even if the people were vaccinated, it would take minimum 60 days to give immunity to the patient.
Each person between 6 and 65 years of age should be given vaccination for two times in 60 days. Once the person is vaccinated, his body would develop immunity against KFD only after 90 days of his first vaccination. So, this vaccination would help them for the next year, Dr Bhat explained.
The KFD would appear between January and June. But this time, it has spread in Sagar and other parts of Shivamogga district in October-November month gaps. Monkeys would act as carriers for virus afflicted ticks and with the monkeys, the disease might come to the Western Ghats.
In the present system, if the disease was not appeared for five years after vaccinated for the disease, the vaccination would be stopped in that area. Since the KFD was not appeared in Udupi district after 1980, the vaccination was not being given to the people. So, the vaccination to be given now should be continued for the next five years. So, if the people were vaccinated now, it would work in 2020.
So, people were being given awareness about the disease and treatment. So far, there were no symptoms of the disease in the district due to precautionary measures and awareness, he said.
Carcass of 7 more monkeys found
Carcass of seven more monkeys were found in various parts of the district including three in Shiriyara, two in Byndoor and one each in Basrur Kandavara and Nandalike. After conducting postmortem of two carcass in Byndoor and one in Nandalike, samples were sent to Shivamogga for testing and remaining four carcass were found in complete mutilated condition.
Meanwhile, the blood samples of two women of Belapu and Kodladi who were admitted to the district hospital for treatment were sent to Manipal hospital and both the samples were tested negative. So, till now, there were no reports of suspected KFD virus in the district, he informed.
30 treated in Manipal
Today, two more patients from Sagar taluk admitted to Manipal hospital for treatment. With them, the number of patients admitted to the hospital so far was increased to 109. Among them, three patients were readmitted to the hospital. After testing, 45 persons were tested positive and 65 persons tested negative and reports of three persons yet to come. Total 81 patients were cured and 30 patients were still undergoing treatment, the hospital sources said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Christmas decorations vandalised by VHP activists at school in Nalbari; Tension in area
Nalbari: Tension prevailed in the Panigaon area of Nalbari district on December 24 after members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal allegedly entered the premises of St Mary’s School and vandalised materials prepared for Christmas celebrations.
According to local sources, activists of the VHP and Bajrang Dal entered the school campus ahead of Christmas and raised slogans inside the premises. It is alleged that Christmas-related decorations and materials kept within the school compound were damaged and set on fire.
Eyewitnesses said that members of the Bajrang Dal were the first to enter the campus, during which they allegedly raised slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram,” “Jai Hindu Rashtra,” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” and burnt items prepared for Christmas celebrations. The incident created panic among local residents and led to concerns over law and order in the area. No injuries have been reported so far.
The incident comes amid reports of similar acts in Nalbari town in recent days, where Christmas decorations displayed at several commercial establishments were allegedly set on fire.
Reacting to the incident, fact-checker Mohammed Zubair said on social media that VHP and Bajrang Dal activists entered St Mary’s School on Christmas Eve, raised slogans and destroyed Christmas decorations. His post drew attention to the incident and sparked wider discussion online.
Police have not yet issued an official statement on the incident. Further details are awaited.
On Christmas Eve, Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal goons entered St. Mary’s School in Panigaon, Nalbari, chanting slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Hindu Rashtra.” They destroyed and set fire to all Christmas decorations prepared at the school. pic.twitter.com/LQHV7FWUvz
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) December 24, 2025
