9 deaths due to monkey fever in Shivamogga district since Dec 2018
Shivamogga, Jan 25: A total of nine deaths due to Kyatsandra Forest Disease, also known as monkey fever, has been reported in Shivamogga district since it broke out there in December 2018, the Karnataka health department said Friday.
Releasing the data, the department said 100 positive cases had been identified in the district since December 24, 2018, of whom nine had died.
This apart, 120 monkeys too died of the disease, including eight on Friday in Shivamogga, it said.
A health officer said 20,362 people have been vaccinated till date, including 208 on Friday.
"We are carrying out field surveillance and have so far surveyed 374 villages, he said.
Shivamogga District Surveillance Officer Dr. B.S Shankarappa had Thursday allayed fears, saying early diagnosis was the key to control KFD, a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to South Asia, and that people with poor immunity level might be more susceptible to it.
Since the disease is caused by tick, the district authorities were distributing insect repellent. Besides, a vaccination drive was also underway, the DSO had said.
The virus spreads through parasitic ticks which latch on to monkeys and is transmitted to human through tick bites. It was first reported in the country from Kyasanur forests in Shivamogga district in 1957 and hence came to be known as KFD.
The KFD infection, which starts with high fever and body ache, results in hemorrhage, similar to that in dengue.
Meanwhile, the district health officer in Mysuru denied that two deaths reported in the district were of monkey fever. He said the deaths were reported from a village bordering Kerala and added that their investigation revealed that one of them had died of suspected brain haemorrhage and the other of pneumonia.
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300 students get free sanitary pads at menstrual health awareness programme in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: Around 300 students from government colleges and schools in Kavoor were given free sanitary pads during an awareness programme on menstrual health and hygiene held on Saturday.
The programme was organised by the Women Research Centre and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) at the Government First Grade College (GFGC), Kavoor. The students hailed from Government First Grade college (GFGC), PU government college and high school, Deccan Herald reported.
Prameela Rao of Women Research Centre reportedly said, such awareness programme on menstrual health and free distribution of pads will be organised once in two months throughout the year. The entire cost of organising the awareness programmes and free distribution of pads had been sponsored by US based couple, Vinay Kumar and Dr Sowmya Rao, and a non-government organisation ‘Code Crimson'."
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Joint Director of the Department of Collegiate Education, Kavitha K R, who inaugurated the programme reportedly said, such initiatives should inspire students to give back to society in the future. As per the report, she highlighted the need for more women role models and encouraged students to break taboos surrounding menstruation.
According to the report, GFGC Principal Dr Geetha M L urged students to use biodegradable sanitary pads. Doctors Ankita Sarkar and Anuja Sarkar from Code Crimson addressed students on menstrual myths, hygiene practices, the importance of regular pad changes and safe disposal methods.
The speakers stressed that menstruation is a natural process and encouraged students to seek correct information without hesitation.
