Bengaluru:As the monsoon continues to falter, Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD), or monkey fever, has lingered far beyond its usual season, defying the pattern in which infections typically subside with the onset of the rain by June.Karnataka has recorded 214 KFD cases since Jan, already surpassing the 188 cases reported during the entirety of 2025, according to the state’s Weekly Infectious Disease Report. The persistence of transmission is evident in the detection of a fresh positive case in Shivamogga during the last week of June.The trend marks a notable departure from last year, when 175 cases had been reported by the same period. The prolonged outbreak has also turned deadlier, claiming six lives this season—five in Shivamogga district and one in Uttara Kannada—raising concerns over the disease’s extended foothold despite the expected arrival of the monsoon.KFD is a tick-borne viral disease caused by the Kyasanur Forest disease virus. It spreads to humans through the bite of infected ticks and can cause high fever, headache, muscle pain, bleeding and, in severe cases, neurological complications. The disease is most commonly reported from Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru and Uttara Kannada.Four positive cases were reported in June alone. According to health department officials, most infections this season were concentrated in Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts.“There are multiple factors behind the increase in cases. The delayed onset of the monsoon is one reason, while the collection of dry and dead leaves—which can harbour infected ticks—is another. There has also been increased exposure due to frequent trips by villagers into forest areas. With KFD, it is difficult to pinpoint one reason for the rise in cases, as the numbers tend to fluctuate from year to year,” an official said.The official added that cases are expected to decline once there is sustained rainfall. “Once it starts raining heavily and the spell continues for a week to 10 days, the cases will begin to decrease. That trend has already started after rain picked up in the second week of June. During the beginning and the end of the disease season, we classify cases as positive even if there is the slightest doubt. That is what happened with the case detected in the last week of June,” the official said.The department also distributed DEPA oil, a tick repellent, throughout the season as a preventive measure.Despite the rise in cases, there is still no clear timeline for the KFD vaccine being developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research.“The ICMR is currently conducting clinical trials. Health minister UT Khader recently met the Union health minister and requested that the process be expedited, as a vaccine is the need of the hour,” said Gurudatta Hegde, commissioner of the health department.QuoteThe vaccine has been under development for over five years. When I met the Union health minister, I urged that it be made available at the earliest. I will appoint a deputy director from the health department to follow up with the ICMR and the Centre so that we can get the vaccine by next year. With the research institute handling multiple projects, constant follow-up is the only way to expedite the processUT Khader, health minister
