Black Fever Disease

Why in the News?

Recently, in some districts of West Bengal, cases of black fever or ‘Kala-Azar disease have been reported.

About Black Fever Disease

• Kala-azar is also known as Visceral Leishmaniasis.
• It is classified as a protozoan parasitic disease which spread by sandfly bites.
• The flies act as vectors and are infected with the parasite called ‘leishmania donovani’.
• The disease is linked to malnutrition, population displacement, poor housing, a weak immune system and a lack of financial resources.
• The disease is endemic for Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Symptoms

• Irregular bouts of fever, weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and anaemia.
• Vector control is suggested by the WHO, which implies reducing or interrupting the transmission of disease by decreasing the number of sandflies.
• The government plans to eliminate the disease in India by 2015, but that deadline was missed.