Kyasanur forest disease or KFD is caused by a tick-borne virus coming from the family of flaviviradae viruses. Also referred to as ” monkey disease”, Kyasanur Forest Disease is transmitted by a infected tick. The monkeys get the disease through the bites of infected ticks. When a monkey is infected, it will cause death, after which the ticks from the dead body will drop off and will spread the disease. Ticks are external parasites that live by feeding blood of mammals, birds or reptiles. Ticks are known as obligated blood sucking parasites. Their bite is painless.
Humans will get the disease from infected tick bites or when he or she has contact with infected animals. Those who are risk are those who visit the forest to collect wood, grass and other forest products. The virus has been isolated from a variety of ticks that include H. turturis, haemaphysalis spinigera, and loxdes petauristae.
The disease in animals is characterized by multifocal hepatocellular necrosis that further progress to hemorrhages in the brain, kidney, adrenal gland and lungs. The disease in humans may be mild or may have no specific signs. It may also present as an unstable hemorrhagic disease with a high mortality rate.
Kyasanur forest disease or KFD can be present in monkeys, bats, and birds during its transmission cycle.
