India - Kala-Azar

[sharon sanders]

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="articleheader">3 die, 250 affected by kala-azar
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Balurghat, Aug. 19: Kala-azar has killed three persons in South Dinajpur while more than 250 people have been infected by the disease.​

According to reports with the district health department, Sushila Kisku, 42, died of kala-azar in Sandhyapukur village in Tapan block on Friday. Her husband, Jahan Baske, 50, had died of the same disease a month ago. Another woman also died at Khaspur in Balurghat block recently.​

The deputy chief medical officer of health, Omkarnath Mondol, said according to official reports 189 people have been affected by the disease in Tapan block alone. ?Besides, in Harirampur, Balurghat and Gangarampur blocks too people have been suffering from kala-azar. We have taken steps to treat these patients and are also spraying DDT in the areas. There are 25 teams comprising six members each doing this vector-control exercise,? Mondol said.​

Kala-azar is caused by the parasite Leishmania donovani, which is transmitted to the human body through the bite of the sand fly, Phlebotomus argentipes. The parasite attacks the liver, spleen and other organs to cause persistent fever and lower the effectiveness of the immune system which turns fatal, if left untreated.​

The district chief medical officer of health, Moloy Kumar Ghosh, said block malaria inspectors were not being appointed in the state after the posts fell vacant. ?People treated at block health centres are also not completing their medicine courses. We are, however, continuing with the preventive measures,? he said.



http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070820/asp/siliguri/story_8212344.asp#

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[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: India - Kala-Azar

Sharp rise in kala-azar cases in Bihar

Patna (Bihar Times): Bihar has witnessed a phenomenal rise in cases of kala-azar during 2007.

The state registered 32,298 cases by end of October against 30,932 reported during the corresponding period in 2006.

So far 140 death have been reported till October this year against 171 in 2006.

According to Dr C P Thakur, former Union Minister for Health and Chairman of the Kala-azar Task Force the disease spread because of ?sand flies? and people living in the houses made of muds are more vulnerable to the disease.

He said the disease took an endemic form between 1930 and 1940 and the Centre had in 1953 launched a drive called as ?malaria eradication programme? for checking the spread of the disease by extensive sprinkling of the DDT powder.

http://bihartimes.com/news08/Jan/3jan4.html