Kala Azar

Why in news?

• Eleven districts of Bengal reported at least 65 cases of black fever or Kala-Azar disease in the last couple of weeks.

About Kala Azar:

• Kala-azar is a slow progressing indigenous disease caused by a protozoan parasite of genus Leishmania
  • In India Leishmania donovani is the only parasite causing this disease
• Kala-azar is a vector borne disease
• The parasite primarily infects reticuloendothelial system and may be found in abundance in bone marrow, spleen and liver.
• Kala-azar is endemic to the Indian subcontinent in 119 districts in four countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal).
• This disease is the second-largest parasitic killer in the world. Elimination is defined as reducing the annual incidence of Kala Azar (KA) to less than 1 case per 10,000 people at the sub-district level.
• Signs and symptoms include fever, weight loss, fatigue, anemia, and substantial swelling of the liver and spleen.

PRACTICE QUESTION

With reference to ‘Kala Azar’, consider the following statements:

1. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent

2. The disease is caused by bacteria

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

                         A

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