In Karnataka, sudden deaths from KyasanurForest Disease raise concerns
Kyasanur Forest Disease
(KFD) cases in Karnataka rose to 153, with four deaths reported so far this season. What concerns health authorities is not just the rise in infections, but the nature of the fatalities — all four patients initially showed signs of recovery before sudden deterioration in their conditions.
Medical investigations revealed that each case of death involved a different complication, leaving experts unable to establish a consistent clinical pattern. This unpredictability is making it harder for doctors to anticipate disease progression and adapt treatment protocols effectively.
"All the deaths occurred under close monitoring by govt-appointed doctors, and each case was investigated thoroughly," said Dr Ansar Ahmed, project director, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). "These deaths were unexpected, and in many ways, unprecedented. That's why we believe there's an urgent need for more research and surveillance — both by ICMR and other govt institutions — as well as through collaboration with private research bodies and NGOs."
Dr Ahmed noted that KFD alone wasn't the direct cause in any of the fatalities. "I've personally gone through each case in detail. What we found is that every death had a different cause or underlying condition. In many instances, it was complications after KFD or pre-existing comorbidities that led to the fatal outcome. KFD, when combined with other health issues, can lead to unpredictable and rapid deterioration — and that's exactly what we've seen."
Chikmagalur and Shivamogga districts saw two deaths each of KFD patients. The most recent death occurred on April 17. An eight-year-old boy from Thirthahalli was under close monitoring by health officials for 12 days and was taken off the ventilator when his vitals seemed stable. However, he died the night his condition improved.
"Some of the recent deaths we've seen were entirely preventable," Harsh Gupta, principal secretary, health and family welfare department, said, adding: "In one case, the patient was on a ventilator with stable vitals, yet we lost them. It was deeply unfortunate. In other cases, multiple comorbidities made recovery extremely difficult. These were high-risk patients, and despite our best efforts, not all could be saved."
He added that the govt took proactive steps early in the season to strengthen KFD response systems. "We enhanced our alert and reporting mechanisms and ensured that no patient would be denied treatment due to financial constraints. The govt is covering the costs of care, including management of post-infection complications. This has helped us offer timely treatment and prevent more deaths."
However, officials admit that the sudden nature of recent fatalities exposed certain gaps in response and understanding of the disease. "While the situation looks better than last year in terms of overall caseload, the unexpected deaths have caught us off guard," Gupta said. "We're now coordinating with tertiary hospitals to conduct deeper clinical analysis. KFD doesn't present the same way every year — its symptoms, warning signs, and progression patterns seem to change. That means our treatment protocols must evolve too."
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**BOX 2:
Districtwise cases since Jan 1
Chikamagalur: 83
Shivamogga: 65
Uttara Kannada: 6
Source: Health & family welfare dept
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