Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD)

Context: India has begun Phase I human clinical trials of a new fully indigenous vaccine against Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), developed under ICMR-led collaboration.

About Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD):

What it is?

• Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic fever, first identified in Kyasanur Forest of Karnataka, and is associated with high fever, weakness and sometimes fatal complications.

Region found in:

• Endemic to the Western Ghats region of India.
• Reported mainly from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra.

Vector (Mode of transmission)

• Transmitted primarily through the bite of hard ticks (Hemaphysalis spinigera).
• Humans can also get infected through contact with infected animals, especially monkeys.
• No human-to-human transmission.

Symptoms:

• Incubation period: 3–8 days.
• Sudden onset of high fever, chills, headache.
• Severe muscle pain, vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms.
• In some cases, bleeding manifestations.
• 10–20% patients experience a second phase with neurological symptoms such as tremors and mental disturbances.

Treatment:

• No specific antiviral cure available.
• Management is supportive, including fluid therapy, oxygen support, blood pressure control and treatment of secondary infections.
• Case fatality rate: around 3–10%, higher without timely medical care.