Question

Which of these is NOT useful in the prevention of KFD?

• A. Vaccination
• B. Deforestation
• C. Prevention of roaming cattle
• D. Personal protection

Hint:

KFD prevention relies on vaccination, tick control on cattle, and personal protection; clearing forest raises exposure instead of lowering it.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also called monkey fever, is a tick borne viral disease first found in the Kyasanur forest area of Karnataka. It spreads to people through the bite of infected Haemaphysalis ticks, and monkeys act as an amplifying host that raises the tick's infection rate in the forest.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Prevention of KFD works on three fronts: cutting the tick population and its contact with people, protecting individuals from tick bites, and giving a specific vaccine to people living in or entering endemic forest areas. Anything that raises human, cattle, or monkey contact with ticks in the forest works against prevention, not for it.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

(A) Vaccination: A formalin inactivated KFD vaccine is given to people in endemic villages, so this is a genuine preventive measure.

(B) Deforestation: Clearing forest for farming, grazing, or cattle grazing pushes people, cattle, and monkeys into closer contact with tick infested forest edges. Field outbreaks of KFD have actually been linked to forest clearing and disturbance, so deforestation raises risk instead of lowering it. This is the option we are looking for.

(C) Prevention of roaming cattle: Cattle that graze in the forest and wander back into villages carry infected ticks with them. Keeping cattle out of the forest, or treating them with acaricide, cuts this route of spread, so this is a real preventive step.

(D) Personal protection: Wearing tick repellent, tucking clothing at the ankles and wrists, and checking the body for ticks after visiting the forest all lower the chance of a tick bite, so this is a real preventive step.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Deforestation is not useful in preventing KFD. It disturbs the forest ecosystem and pushes people and animals closer to infected ticks, raising the risk of disease instead of lowering it.