VALPOI
The Valpoi CHC has started conducting advocacy programmes and vaccination drives to tackle the KFD, which normally starts from October. First such programme was organised at sub health centre Uste, where 68 villagers were vaccinated and the advocacy programme was conducted by medical officer Dr Varsha Kerkar.
CHC Valpoi health officer Dr Gajanan Naik said CHC Valpoi has started vaccination drives against KFD and it will continue in other villages of Sattari. "We will try to cover maximum population of Sattari," said Dr Naik.
Speaking on educating villagers on KFD, Dr Naik said the health staff will conduct advocacy programmes on KFD in various schools in Sattari with the help of Parents Teachers Association and local clubs.
He further said 90 patients were tested positive for KFD by Manipal Centre of Virus Research Manipal University from November 2016 to May 2017 and no mortality was recorded in the last season. He appealed to the people to join hands with the health department to control this disease as much as possible.
KFD, a tick-borne viral infection, was first reported in the Kyasanur forest region in the border of Shimoga and Uttara Kannada districts in 1957. The disease is transmitted to people from infected monkeys through tick bite.
