Udupi on alert as monkey deaths spark fears of monkeypox outbreak

Udupi : Amid rising concerns over monkeypox in the Malenadu region, five monkey carcasses have been discovered in the Hosangadi area of Kundapur taluk, Udupi district, raising local anxiety.

Health and forest department officials have collected samples for testing, but the exact cause of death remains undetermined, heightening fears among residents. The discovery comes against a backdrop of increasing monkeypox cases in neighboring Malenadu districts, prompting vigilance in Udupi as well.

Most recently, several monkeys in the Western Ghats belt have died under unexplained circumstances, further alarming the local population. Over the past week, five monkeys were found dead in the Karooru area under the Hosangadi Gram Panchayat.

Four of these carcasses were in an advanced state of decomposition, while one was examined, and samples collected for laboratory testing by the district health authorities. The recurring deaths—similar to incidents in the same area last year—have intensified public concern.

Monkeypox returns after 30 years:

The latest deaths have revived memories of the 2019 monkeypox outbreak in Udupi, which occurred after nearly 30 years. At that time, the coastal and Malenadu populations were alarmed as dozens of people required treatment at a hospital in Manipal (KMC), with 73 confirmed cases treated.

In 2019, Shivamogga district recorded 12 KFD (Kyasanur Forest Disease) cases and 344 people tested positive overall, while North Kannada reported 85 cases with three deaths. Other districts affected included Mysuru, Belagavi, Chikkamagaluru, and Haveri.

Last year, a woman had died from monkeypox in the region. With the recent deaths of monkeys, the local population fears a possible recurrence, even before official confirmation of the cause.

Health authorities collect samples but cause remains unknown:

While samples from the dead monkeys have been collected by health officials, the cause of death has not yet been disclosed, increasing anxiety in Hosangadi. The fact that all five monkeys were found near a water source and that such deaths have occurred in the same environment annually has raised questions among residents about the underlying reasons.

Experts warn that with the fatal monkeypox threat increasing in Malenadu, people living in the Western Ghats border areas should remain vigilant. The district health department has emphasized the need for early precautionary measures in Hosangadi-Siddhapur to prevent further spread and to investigate the precise causes of monkey fatalities.

Also Read: DK Shivakumar asserts he has nothing to learn from Kumaraswamy amid political realignments