Karnataka: State extends free treatment to all ‘monkey fever’ patients

The state government has announced free treatment for all patients suffering from Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), commonly known as monkey fever. Previously limited to families below the poverty line (BPL), the initiative now extends to above-poverty-line (APL) patients as well.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao confirmed the decision on Saturday, stating that APL patients will receive free treatment at hospitals registered under the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust. "This move will benefit hundreds of families battling the disease," he said.

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In efforts to curb KFD, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing a vaccine. The first phase of trials has shown promising results, and human trials are scheduled to begin in April 2025. If successful, the vaccine could be available by 2026.

KFD, a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic disease, has been rapidly spreading in Malnad, coastal Karnataka, and bordering states along the Western Ghats. Caused by a Flavivirus, it has a fatality rate ranging between 3% and 15%, significantly higher than dengue’s 2.6%.

Experts attribute the disease’s spread to environmental changes such as deforestation, shifting land use, and inadequate rainfall. KFD follows a seasonal pattern, peaking in summer before receding with the monsoon. Since 2003, at least 59 deaths have been reported.

Medical experts warn that delayed treatment can lead to multiple organ failure, making early diagnosis and medical intervention critical.