Kyasanur Forest Disease: A Tropical Disease of the Southwest India

Abstract

In 1957, the unexpected epizootic outbreak of an unknown virus in the vicinity Kyasanur forest of Shimoga district's Sagara taluk, led to the fatality of a set of mammals, including humans. The disease is called Kyasanur Forest Disease [KFD] and the causal organism is Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus [KFDV], a flavivirus. KFD is classified as a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever, reporting 400 to 500 cases per year with a mortality rate of 2-10%. The virus exhibits genetic and clinical similarity with documented Alkhurma virus in Saudi Arabia, Russian encephalitis, Osmak hemorrhagic fever, documented in China as Nanjianyin virus. During year 2010, it open casted around the Egypt-Sudan region and It was found that this fever was also carried by arachnoid of Ornithodorids and other genera, and which parasitise sheep and camels. Despite the similarity with other viruses, KFDV remains endemic to Southwestern parts of India, especially to the Karnataka region of Malandu. however, having observed at recent cases reported in states such as Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the health and science departments have been keen to conduct further research on KFDV. The proposed research work is an attempt to spread the evidence-based knowledge and awareness of the disease and related research in the field.