Bengaluru: The failure of the Karnataka government to address the outbreak of Monkey Fever, also known as Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), has resulted in the tragic loss of two lives, according to R. Ashoka, the leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Assembly.
Ashoka condemned the Congress government’s negligence and irresponsibility, emphasizing that the disease is rapidly spreading in the hilly regions of the state, posing a serious threat.
Addressing reporters, Ashoka criticized the government for ignoring reports of Monkey Fever cases since November 2023, accusing the Department of Health and Family Welfare of failing to take appropriate action.
He lamented that despite the deaths of two individuals, the government only reacted by releasing guidelines and convening routine meetings in Shivamogga. Ashoka argued that if the government had acted promptly two months earlier, the alarming situation could have been averted.
Monkey Fever cases typically emerge during the summer months in districts such as Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, and Belagavi.
Ashoka underscored the government’s negligence over the past 66 years regarding the disease, asserting that the health department’s inaction has exacerbated the situation.
