Kala-azar outbreak in West Bengal district
By IANSSunday, June 13, 2010
KOLKATA - Outbreak of kala-azar, a centuries-old disease, in two tribal villages near Bolpur in West Bengal’s Birbhum district has thrown health officials into a tizzy.
The outbreak came to light after the district health authorities were informed of the death of two children who had a mysterious fever a few days back.
Six people of Golamighat and Sirishdanga villages in a remote corner of Bolpur block were found positive for kala-azar after blood tests, Birbhum’s chief medical officer of health Ashis Mallik said.
A medical team has been sent to the area to spread awareness among the tribals about the disease, Mallik said.
“All arrangements have been made to treat the villagers. Our medical staff are collecting blood samples from the villagers regularly for early detection of the disease,” the officer said.
All the six affected people have been admitted to Bolpur sub-division hospital.
A team of health staff will be sent to the villages to spray disinfectants.
Kala-azar is a chronic and potentially fatal parasitic disease of the internal organs, particularly the liver, spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes, due to infection by a parasite called Leishmania donovani, transmitted by sandfly bites.
