Before the endemic of bird and swine flu got faded out, alert for another new and unmanageable viral fever is knocking at the door. After the second death in India due to a rare tick-borne viral fever popularly known as "Monkey Fever", it has taken attention of the clinical fraternity especially in southern part of India. A basic knowledge of the disease can be useful to combat the illness before it becomes endemic. What is monkey fever?
Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) was first recognized as a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic febrile disease in the Shimoga district of Karnataka state of India in 19050's. The causative agent, KFD virus (KFDV), is a highly pathogenic member in the family Flaviviridae, producing a haemorrhagic disease in infected human beings. KFD is a zoonotic disease and has so far been localized only in a southern part of India. Internationally, KFD virus is ranked as one…
