PANAJI/ VALPOI: The death toll related to the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) rose to three when 50-year-old Jayshree Gaonkar succumbed to the disease at Goa Medical College (GMC) on Wednesday.
According to sources, the Mauxi, Sattari resident was admitted at CHC, Valpoi on March 2 after suffering symptoms of KFD including fever and nausea. Her diagnosis of KFD was confirmed by the Manipal virology department team and was referred to GMC on March 7.
Speaking to The Goan, state epidemiologist Dr Utkarsh Betodkar said Gaonkar had not suffered from other medical conditions but had been shifted to GMC as there was no change in her condition at the CHC.
He added that while deaths may be high with patients having added medical complications, the fatality rate for the disease was anywhere between three and five percent.
“Healthier patients have a higher chance of survival, since they have a high immune system. But there will always be a three to five percent fatality rate,” said Dr Betodkar.
This is the third death due to KFD in less than three months from the Sattari area. With a higher detection process this year, the department has recorded a total of 130 positive cases for KFD.
Meanwhile, the advocacy programme is also being conducted regularly by CHC Valpoi in all affected areas in Sattari in addition to awareness programmes in schools.
Dr Betodkar also said the vaccination drive in the area has been a success with 1,100 people being vaccinated. The vaccination in Sattari began on March 4 and will continue till March 19.
Speaking about the treatment for KFD, Betodkar added that like Dengue, there was no particular drug or medication for the treatment KFD disease. Most cases are being treated at OPDs and CHCs and get transferred to GMC in the case of complications. Currently there are no patients receiving treatment at GMC for the disease.
