Kyasanur Forest Disease Spreads To Bandipur Tiger Reserve From Shimoga

• The Ministry of Environment and Forests has send a technical note contained suggestions and measures on Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), a tick-borne viral disease, to State Forest Department.
• Measures such as:
  • restricting movements in forest area,
  • protective clothing to be worn by forest people, and
  • treatment of domestic cattle to prevent the disease from spreading.are advised.
• The disease(since mid-1950s) was detected in Kyasanur forest area of Shimoga district among the black-faced langurs and red-faced bonnet monkeys and hence it is also called “Monkey Fever”.
• The disease has spread from Sagar, Sorab and Shikaripur taluks in Shimoga(was endmic there untill 1971) to far-off Bandipur Tiger Reserve areas.
• Its circulating through small mammals like shrews, ground birds and an ticks.
• Most recently a case was registered in Maddur range.
• Vaccination has proven an effective measure.

Exams Perspective:

1. Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD)
2. Bandipur Tiger Reserve
3. Measures to overcome KFD