Kala Azar (Black Death)

In Context 

• According to reports, eleven districts of Bengal have reported at least 65 cases of black fever or kala azar in the last couple of weeks

Kala-azar

• About:
  • It is a slow progressing indigenous disease caused by a protozoan parasite of genus Leishmania.
  • Kala azar or leishmaniases is one of the most dangerous neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) which is endemic in 76 countries, with approximately 200 million people at risk of infection
• Forms: 
  • There are 3 main forms of leishmaniasis – visceral (also known as kala-azar, which is and the most serious form of the disease), cutaneous (the most common where skin is affected), and mucocutaneous
• Transmission: 
  • Leishmania parasites are transmitted through the bites of infected female phlebotomine sandflies, which feed on blood to produce eggs.
    • Some 70 animal species, including humans, have been found as natural reservoir hosts of Leishmania parasites.
• Impacts: 
  • The disease affects some of the poorest people and is associated with malnutrition, population displacement, poor housing, a weak immune system and lack of financial resources.
  • Leishmaniasis is also linked to environmental changes such as deforestation, building of dams, irrigation schemes and urbanization.
• Prevention and control:
  • Prevention and control of leishmaniasis requires a combination of intervention strategies.
  • It is a treatable and curable disease, “which requires an immunocompetent system because medicines will not get rid of the parasite from the body, thus the risk of relapse if immunosuppression occurs”.
  • Effective disease surveillance is important to promptly monitor and act during epidemics and situations with high case fatality rates under treatment.

Source:IE