Kala Azar Kala-azar is a disease which has taken the lives of lakhs of people across the country including Bihar. Now it is on the verge of extinction from India. It has been successful in keeping the disease under WHO parameters of eliminating the disease to one case in 10,000 for two consecutive years.
Let us tell you that after malaria, Kala-azar is the second most deadly parasitic disease in the country. According to data released by the Union Health Ministry, the country recorded 595 cases and 4 deaths in 2023 and 339 cases and one death so far this year. Let us know how dangerous a disease Kala Azar is and what is its story…
What is black jar disease and how does it spread?
Kala-azar is also known as black fever. Many of its cases were seen in West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand in the country. However, today this disease has almost been eradicated. Black jar is spread by the bite of sandflies. Its initial symptoms are not visible. This disease is also called visceral leishmaniasis (VL). It is caused by a protozoan parasite. This disease spreads more than 9- sandfly species.
symptoms of black jar disease
irregular fever
weight loss
spleen or liver
anemia
lack of interest in everything
face turning pale
weakness
History of Kala-azar disease
This disease first appeared in Assam in 1870, which spread rapidly along the Brahmaputra and Gangetic plains to Bengal and Bihar. Lakhs of people lost their lives due to this disease. Dr. French, civil surgeon of Burdwan district of West Bengal, first noticed its symptoms in some people in 1854-1875.
Then this disease was named Burdwan fever. In the year 1882, the then Civil Medical Officer Clark McNaught also observed such symptoms in Tura, Assam. The people of Assam named this disease Kala-azar. In 1903, William Leishman and Charles Donovan discovered the pathogen by performing autopsies on two soldiers from Calcutta and Madras. Sir Ronald Ross named it Leishmania.
Why is Kala-azar dangerous?
WHO has considered this disease dangerous. The biggest reason for this disease is its not being identified at the right time. Most people ignore it as normal fever and do not get treated. Wherever such cases occur, the government sprays pesticides to kill sandflies, but in many areas people refuse to do so, as they feel that it will harm them. Not being aware about this disease makes it dangerous.
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