Wayanad: Two cases of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KDF), commonly known as monkey fever have been reported from Kerala’s Wayanad district.

The Wayanad district emergency hospital confirmed a 35-year-old man from Thirunelli tribal hamlet of Mananthavady taluk, has been affected by the disease.

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A 27-year-old man from Thonikkadavu colony was also shifted to the government medical college in Kozhikode after suspecting monkey fever. Both of them are suspected to have contracted the disease from villages in Karnataka.

Earlier in 2015, 102 cases were reported from the Wayanad district and 11 patients died due to monkey fever. The first outbreak in the district was in 2013 when only a single case was reported.

Meanwhile, the district administration, in association with the health department, has intensified preventive measures, including a vaccination drive, to combat KFD.

The district medical officer asked the public to inform either the health officials or the forest department in case of monkey deaths in forests and human settlements nearby.

Dead monkeys are more likely to spread the disease as the carrier insects would move out of the body soon after the death.

Meanwhile, at least six people succumbed to monkey fever recently. All six victims belong to Aralagodu in Shivamogga district in Karnataka.

The 18-year-old Shwetha was the latest victim. Shwetha was being treated at Sahyadri Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital in Shivamogga.

The other victims are Parshwanath Jain, Krishnappa of Vatemakki, Manjunath, Lokaraj Jain and Ramakka.

It is also reported that the virus spreads through parasitic ticks which latch on to monkeys and the virus is then transmitted to through tick bites on humans. It was first reported in the country from Kyasanur forests in Shivamogga district in 1957 and therefore the disease was named KFD.

The KFD infection, which starts with high fever and body ache, results in haemorrhage, like that in dengue.