Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV) was first identified in 1957, when it was isolated from a sick monkey from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka State, India. Since then it has been reported to be enzootic in five districts of Karnataka State. Despite the availability of a vaccine against the disease, reports of human infections are on the rise. Isolated cases and antibody against KFDV have been reported from new areas from the states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala in India.

As a new challenge to health scenario of Kerala, an outbreak of Kyasanur Forest Disease was reported from Wayanad and Malappuram districts of Kerala, India from January to March 2015. A study on tick vectors of Wayanad district confirmed the presence of larval and nymphal Haemaphysalis spinigera, the chief vector of KFD in the forest pastures of Pulppally area. But in other sites viz Kalpetta and Mananthavady its prevalence was found to be low. Presence of tick species like Haemaphysalis bispinosa, Haemaphysalis spinigera, Amblyomma integrum. and Boophilus(Rhipicephalus) annulatus.

Researchers investigated a Kyasanur Forest disease outbreak in Karnataka, India during December 2013–April 2014. Surveillance and retrospective study indicated low vaccine coverage, low vaccine effectiveness, and spread of disease to areas beyond those selected for vaccination and to age groups not targeted for vaccination. To control disease, vaccination strategies need to be reviewed.

Kyasanur forest disease (KFD), a tick-borne viral disease with hemorrhagic manifestations, is localised in five districts of Karnataka state, India. Annual rounds of vaccination using formalin inactivated tissue-culture vaccine have been conducted in the region since 1990. Two doses of vaccine are administered to individuals aged 7–65 years at an interval of one month followed by periodic boosters after 6–9 months. In spite of high effectiveness of the vaccine reported in earlier studies, KFD cases among vaccinated individuals have been recently reported.