Three monkey deaths near Agumbe: Six persons admitted to hospital

Shivamogga, Jan 17: Despite widespread public awareness and vaccination, the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) has been taking toll in the district. Six persons suffering from fever in Sagar taluk were admitted to Manipal hospital on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Carcass of three monkeys were found in Agumbe and surrounding places and this has created panic among people. However, the health department has been creating awareness among people against KFD. Admitted Raghavendra Bhat Bannumane, Somaraju Nandihaklu, Pushpadanta Mandavalli, Savitha Tumari, Ravi Nandodi and Rajamathi Aralagodu who were suffering from suspected KFD virus were admitted to Manipal hospital. Carcass found One Carcass was found at Agumbe and two other at near Bilachikatte. As soon as the news spread, health and forest departments and local gram Panchayat authorities rushed to the places and burnt the carcasses after conducting postmortem. Entomologists who came from Uttara Kannada district to Aralagodu village and other places collected ticks to identify the KFD virus. Meanwhile, former minister Kagodu Thimmappa gave away Rs 1 lakh  compensation each of the six deceased families given by Health Minister Shivanand Patil. Source: Vartha Bharati