Kala-Azar Kala-azar is a disease that has claimed the lives of thousands of people across the country, including in Bihar. Today, it is on the verge of extinction from India. It has managed to keep the disease within the WHO parameters of eliminating the disease at one in 10,000 cases for two consecutive years.
Let us tell you that after malaria, Kala-azar is the second deadliest parasitic disease in the country. According to data released by the Union Health Ministry, the country has recorded 595 cases and 4 deaths in 2023 and 339 cases and one death so far this year. Let us know how dangerous Kala Azar disease is and what is its history…
What is black pot disease and how is it spread?
Kala-azar is also known as black fever. Many cases have been observed in West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand in the country. However, today this disease has almost been eradicated. Black pot is spread by the bite of sandflies. Its first 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 species of sandflies.
symptoms of black pot disease
irregular fever
weight loss
spleen or liver
anemia
lack of interest in everything
pale face
Weakness
History of Kala-azar disease
This disease first appeared in Assam in 1870, and spread rapidly along the Brahmaputra and Ganges plains to Bengal and Bihar. Thousands of people have lost their lives to this disease. Dr. French, civil surgeon of the Burdwan district of West Bengal, first observed its symptoms in some people in 1854-1875.
This disease was then called Burdwan fever. In 1882, Clark McNaught, then a civil surgeon, 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 while performing autopsies on two soldiers from Calcutta and Madras. Sir Ronald Ross named it Leishmania.
Why is Kala-azar dangerous?
The WHO considered this disease dangerous. The main reason for this disease is that it is not identified at the right time. Most people ignore it as a normal fever and go untreated. Wherever such cases occur, the government sprays pesticides to kill the sandflies, but in many areas people refuse to do so, believing it could harm them. Not knowing about this disease makes it dangerous.
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