Source: https://www.newindianexpress.com/sta...e-2445792.html
Kyasanur Forest Disease: Rise and spread of six-decade-old menace
Complacency in re-administration causes rise, as vaccine immunity lasts a year; 2022 to see peak, says scientist
Published: 24th April 2022 06:36 AM | Last Updated: 24th April 2022 06:36 AM
By Chetana Belagere
Express News Service
BENGALURU: Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), aka Monkey Fever, a zoonotic viral disease transmitted to human beings through the bite of infected ticks, this year may see its peak in numbers as scientists predict that every three years the virus reaches its peak (parabolic wave). The last time it peaked was in 2019, with a maximum of 23 deaths and 343 cases in Shivamogga alone.
Dr Ranganath S, Scientist, Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, told The New Sunday Express, “This disease is directly related to the vaccination and immune status. Vaccines are given in one year and immunity lasts till the next year, and there would be a vaccine associated dip in cases. This makes people complacent and they don’t take the vaccine the following year, and cases peak during the third year.”...