Kala-Azar

Kala-Azar:  Recently, six East African countries—Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan—signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to eradicate visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar).

o The agreement was formalized during an event co-hosted by the African Union and the World Health Organization (WHO) on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

• About Kala-azar :Caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani.

o Spread to humans via the bite of infected female sandflies—Phlebotomus argentipes being the primary vector in India.

o Predominantly affects impoverished communities and is linked to factors like malnutrition, displacement, substandard housing, weakened immunity, and poverty.

o Individuals with compromised immune systems, especially those with HIV, are more susceptible to severe infection.

o Clinical Symptoms: Includes recurring fever, dramatic weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and severe anaemia. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal within two years.

o Diagnosis Tools: Diagnosis involves both clinical evaluation and confirmation using parasitological or serological methods, including the widely used rK39 rapid diagnostic test.

o Treatment Options: Treated with various anti-parasitic drugs; early diagnosis and prompt treatment significantly improve outcomes.