Kyasanur forest disease
Source : Indian Express
GS II : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

Why in News ?

A new point-of-care test has been found to be highly sensitive in the rapid diagnosis of Kyasanur forest disease (KFD)

• Kyasanur forest disease also known as monkey fever, which is an emerging public health problem in the country.

Key Facts

• Such point-of-care tests would be beneficial for the diagnosis of KFD as the outbreaks mainly happen in remote areas, where there is lack of well-equipped sample handling and laboratory testing facilities.
• Point-of-care test would be useful in quick patient management and controlling.
• Point-of-care test includes
  • A battery-operated PCR analyser, which is a portable, lightweight
  • Universal cartridge-based sample pre-treatment kit
  • Nucleic acid extraction device that aid in sample processing at the point of care.
  • Present study, we have evaluated the microchip-based TruenatTM KFD Point of Care Test for the rapid diagnosis of KFD.
  • PoCT was found to be highly sensitive, specific with a limit of detection of up to 10 copies of KFD viral RNA.
• Conventional Techniques
  • Diagnosis of suspected cases was entirely dependent on conventional techniques which were laborious and time consuming, delaying timely diagnosis and increased disease burden.
  • Quick and reliable molecular diagnostic tests were developed by NIV requires laboratory abd trained staff.

Kyasanur Forest Disease

• This disease was first identified in Kyasanur forest of Shimoga district in Karnataka during an investigation of monkey mortalities in 1957.
• The disease is caused by a Kyasanur Forest disease virus.
• The virus primarily affects humans and monkeys.
• The virus is maintained mainly in hard ticks, monkeys, rodents and birds.
• It is transmitted via the bite of Haemaphysalis ticks and contact with carcasses of dead monkeys.
• Disease is characterised by chills, frontal headache, body ache, and high fever for five to 12 days with a case fatality rate of 3 to 5 per cent.
• Several outbreaks of KFD have been reported every year especially in five districts of Karnataka with average cases of about 400 to 500 per year.

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