Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao visits KFD-affected areas, holds meeting with officials

Minister Gundurao plans to prevent Kyasanur Forest Disease deaths with vaccines, mobile clinics, and coordinated efforts in Karnataka.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundurao has said that his department will take all necessary measures in coordination with other departments to avoid deaths due to Kyasanur Forest Disease this year. He spoke to the media in Sagar on Tuesday (November 26, 2024) after visiting KFD-affected villages in the taluk.

The department had been in touch with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for manufacturing vaccines to avoid the viral infection. A Hyderabad-based company had begun work to develop the vaccine. “We are hopeful of getting vaccine for trial by March 2026. We have an understanding with the ICMR to provide ₹10 crore to develop vaccines,” the minister said.

Further, the Minister stated that the department would set up a mobile clinic to operate in the KFD-affected areas of Sagar and parts of Uttara Kannada districts. The clinic would be operational within a month.

The Minister also held a meeting on measures needed to avoid the spread of the disease. Legislators Belur Gopalakrishna, Balkhees Banu and senior officers of the Health and Family Welfare Department were present at the meeting.