Monkey Fever: A Viral Infection

Hello Friends!

Today we will talk about Monkey Fever that has recently hit tourism in Shivamogga. The footfall in the tourist destination has drastically dropped this year and one of the worst hit destination is Jog Falls. Due to Monkey Fever 12 people lost their lives in the Shivamogga district between November 2018 and May 2019 while 341 positive cases were reported this year. Let’s talk about Monkey Fever in detail.

Monkey Fever:

1. Monkey Fever is also known as Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD).

2. It is a viral infection. It is tick borne Haemorrhagic fever.

3. Monkey Fever is endemic to South India.

4. Monkey Fever was first reported from Kyasanur forest of Karnataka in India in March 1957. The disease now has spread to Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

5. The disease first manifested as an epizootic outbreak among monkeys.

How Monkey Fever Spreads?

1. It is a tick borne viral disease that has spread from wild to people living at the periphery of forests across the Western Ghats.

2. Tick abundance and composition are indicators of risk of KFD outbreaks in an area.

3. The KFD virus belongs to the Flaviviridae family of viruses. It belongs to the same family members that spread dengue and yellow fever.

4. In dengue and yellow fever virus is spread by mosquitoes but in KFD virus is transmitted by ticks.

5. KFD virus circulates in wild, infect small mammals like jungle striped squirrel and bat species.

What are the Ticks:

Ticks are tiny parasitic animals and feed on their blood and transmit virus into blood stream of hosts. Ticks from the Haemaphysalis group especially the species Haemaphysalis spinigera, are believed to be most common vectors of virus.

How Monkey Fever spreads from animals to humans:

1. The hard tick Haemaphysalis Spinigera is vector of Kyasanur Forest Disease virus. Once infected, ticks remain so for life and able to pass KFD virus to offspring via the egg.

2. Transmission of KFD to human occurs after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal, most commonly a sick or recently dead monkey.

3. No person to person transmission is there.

4. Human cases mostly occur in month of June to November, mostly in Southwest and South India.

Causes of Monkey Fever:

1. Dead Monkey: Monkey Fever or KFD virus gets transmitted by bite of infected ticks or via contact with a sick or recently dead monkey.

2. Deforestation: Clearing of forest area for cultivation causes change in tick fauna and is spreading among humans. According to Indian Council of Medical Research as more and more people venturing encroaching into forests for working in cashew farms, to collect firewood or to graze their cattle, they are more likely to get exposed to virus infected ticks.

3. Climate Change: Global warming has led to emergence of new type of diseases like money fever. Rising temperature is responsible for growth of tick population between 2013 and 2015. Increase in temperature has widened habitats of insects that transit diseases to people.

Who are susceptible to the virus?

1. Monkeys.

2. Rodents.

3. Bats.

4. Shrews.

Symptoms of Monkey Fever:

1. After an incubation period of 3-8 days, the symptoms start	10. Low Platelet
2. Chills	11. Red Blood Cell counts are less
3. Frontal Headache	12. Low white blood cells
4. Fever	13. Bleeding from nose, throat and gums
5. Muscle Pain	14. Gastrointestinal Bleeding
6. Vomiting	15. Tremors
7. Mental Disturbance	16. Vision Problems
8. Diarrhea	17. Absence of reflexes
9. Low Blood Pressure

Diagnosis of Monkey Fever:

1. Hemagglutination Inhibition Assays (HI): In this test sialic acid receptors on the surface of RBCs bind to the hemagglutinin glycoprotein found on the surface of influenza virus and create a network of interconnected RBCs and virus particles. The RBCs used in this assay are typically from chickens, turkeys, horses, guinea pigs or humans depending on virus or bacterium.

2. Complement Fixation Tests: It is an immunological medical test that can be used to detect the presence of either specific antibody or specific antigen in a patient’s serum, based on whether complement fixation occurs.

3. Neutralization Tests: It is used to quantify the titer of neutralizing antibody for a virus.

4. Elisa Test: Under this test immunoglobulin M antibodies are detected.

5. Taq Man based Real Time RT-PCR: Molecular detection at early stage.

6. Nested RT-PCR: Isolation of virus from the blood.

Treatment:

There is no specific treatment for KFD virus. But early hospitalization and fluid level management can reduce the symptoms. Complete rest and diet rich in protein may help. Management of bleeding disorder can help.

Vaccination Campaign:

Vaccination Campaign has been started to prevent monkey fever. DMP oil, an insect repellent is distributed to keep at bay the ticks that spread KFD virus. Samples are collected for pathological tests to rule out monkey fever along with injective vaccination campaign.

Prevention:

1. Protective clothing.

2. Tick control.

3. Vaccination.

4. Use of Insect Repellants.

5. Mosquito control.

6. Boost up Immune System.

7. Fluid Intake increase.

Who are at risk of Monkey Fever?

People with recreational or occupational exposure to rural or outdoor settings like Hunters, Herders, Forest Workers and farmers.

Hope you will like this article. If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above consult with your doctor because this disease can be fatal too.

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If you or any other person has a medical concern, you should consult with your health care provider or seek other professional medical treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something that have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.

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Monkey Fever: A Viral Infection