Kala-azar epidemic on the rise

JHAPA, June 22: The number of people infected by kala-azar in Jhapa is increasing each year. In the last three years, countless number of people have been infected by the disease and one died. [break]



According to Nawaraj Subba, District Public Health Officer, the disease is spreading fast due to the open border with India. All those infected are either landless people or those who are financially weak.



“Those who are not able to live hygienically are prone to this disease,” says Subba.



The District Public Health Office has listed 11 VDCs as susceptible epidemic zones. Among them, Anarmani, Kohabara, Pathamari, Kechana, Balubadi and Rajgad are severely infected zones.



While 22 people were infected with kala-azar in 2006, in 2007 the number increased to 58. Though the number of infected was down to 36 in 2008, just this week four new patients were diagnosed with the disease at Dharampur-8.



Kala-azar is transmitted through the bite of sandfly, an insect and is carried by a protozoan named Leishmania donovani.

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