Udupi : Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner, on Monday directed officers to take all precautionary measures with regard to Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) in Udupi district.

She was chairing a meeting of District Watchdog Committee on Health Issues at the District Offices Complex here.

Ms. Francis said that no cases of KFD had been reported in the district so far. The deaths of monkeys in the forests was one sign of the disease. KFD did not spread from one person to another. Continuous fever for 8 – 10 days, severe headache, pain in the waist, hands and legs, and weakness, were symptoms of the disease. The departments of Health, Animal Husbandry, Forests, Panchayat Raj, should work together. They should create awareness on the disease. It spreads through ticks from monkeys to domesticated animals that go to forests and from them to people.

Boards with information on the disease and precautionary measures should be installed at the beginning of all roads leading to forests. The zilla panchayat should direct all gram panchayats to hold Gram Sabhas to inform people about the disease. Information should be given through medical officers. Posters should be put up at GPs.

The Health Department should keep stock of medicines to treat KFD. Surveys should be conducted daily in areas where monkeys died and reports should be submitted, Ms. Francis said.

The viscera of 11 monkeys had been sent to the Viral Diagnostic Lab in Shivamogga and its report was expected in a couple of days. Prashant Bhat, District Malaria Officer, had been appointed nodal officer to monitor matters related to the disease in the district.

As many as 1,080 bottles of DMP oil had been supplied to the district. This oil had been distributed to the staff of Forest Department and Anti-Naxalite Force in the district depending on requirements.