Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao with ICMR Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl. (Supplied)
A vaccine for Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) will be available by 2026, announced Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao after a meeting with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl in New Delhi on Wednesday, 16 October.
This announcement comes as Karnataka faces a surge in KFD cases, commonly known as monkey fever.
During the meeting, Minister Gundu Rao urged the ICMR to expedite the process of making the vaccine available for public use, and sought both financial and technical assistance to support the vaccine’s development.
He emphasised the importance of accelerating the development of the KFD vaccine, highlighting the urgent need for its availability amid rising case numbers.
The first phase of trials for the KFD vaccine has already shown promising results, and the second phase is set to begin soon. Human trials are scheduled to start in April 2025, with the vaccine expected to be ready for public use by 2026.
Met with the Director General of ICMR, Dr. Rajeev Bahl, to discuss key health initiatives, ongoing projects, and future collaborations aimed at strengthening public health efforts in Karnataka.
We reviewed the progress of the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) vaccine, which has… pic.twitter.com/tauVLKQHmO
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) October 16, 2024
Current situation in Karnataka
Karnataka is grappling with a significant outbreak of Kyasanur Forest Disease, with 53 confirmed cases and two deaths reported in 2024. The affected districts include Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, and Shivamogga.
Health officials predict that 2024 may see a peak in KFD cases, following a pattern observed every four to five years since the disease was first identified in 1956.
The recent rise in KFD cases has been linked to decreased rainfall, which typically helps control tick populations. The absence of expected December rains has allowed ticks to thrive, increasing the risk of transmission in the affected areas.
Human activities like collecting firewood and cattle grazing in forested areas have increased the risk of tick bites, leading to more cases in rural communities.
KFD is primarily transmitted through bites from infected ticks, specifically the species Haemaphysalis spinigera, or through contact with infected animals, particularly monkeys.
Preventive measures include vaccination, tick avoidance strategies, and community awareness campaigns. Health officials have emphasized the importance of education about the risks associated with forest activities to mitigate exposure to the disease.
Efforts and preventive measures
The Karnataka Health Department is actively distributing tick repellents and monitoring high-risk areas. However, past challenges with a previously suspended KFD vaccine due to potency issues have left the population vulnerable to new outbreaks.
Minister Rao had earlier highlighted the need for heightened surveillance and rapid response measures to control the spread of KFD.
“Every monkey death in the area is reported to us, and we immediately initiate measures like spraying Malathion powder within a 60-metre radius and closely monitoring the area,” said Dr Suragihalli, a health official involved in the response efforts.
Also Read: First Kyasanur Forest Disease death in 2024 reported in Shivamogga, Karnataka
History of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD)
The virus was first identified in 1957 and remains a significant public health issue. KFD typically presents with symptoms such as fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal issues. There is currently no specific antiviral treatment, and management focuses on supportive care.
The spread of KFD has been closely linked to human encroachment into forest areas, which disrupts the ecosystem and increases contact between humans and infected ticks.
While other preventive measures have been in action, vaccination efforts have been hindered in the past due to vaccine shortages and potency issues, making the upcoming development of a new KFD vaccine crucial for preventing future outbreaks.
With human trials scheduled for 2025 and the vaccine expected to be available by 2026, KFD vaccine development is a significant step toward controlling this cyclic disease that has plagued Karnataka and neighbouring states for decades.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
