Deadly ‘tick’ virus Outbreak leaves 19 dead amid desperate scramble to contain spreading

A deadly outbreak has sparked a warning to tourists after a dangerous infection known as Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) spread to hundreds of people in India leaving 19 dead, a watchdog has warned. The virus, which is in the same family as yellow fever and dengue fever, is believed to be spreading from an outbreak that started in three villages in Sindhudurg.

The report from watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said: “Between January 2016 and January 2018, laboratory tests confirmed 332 cases of the disease in the district, and 19 cases of that number were lethal. “The Indian authorities did not specify the incidence of the KFD in January 2018.” The dangerous virus is spread to humans by tick bites or in milk from infected animals. READ MORE