Leishmaniasis outbreak in Kenya nears 2,000 cases

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

Disease outbreaks continue to plague Kenya and according to the Ministry of Health, outbreaks of cholera and measles continue in the country.

In addition, Kenya is reporting a large outbreak of the parasitic disease, visceral leishmaniasis (Kala Azar). Since January through the first week of August, a total of 1,986 cases of leishmaniasis have been reported from Marsabit, Wajir and Garissa counties. Marsabit county has been hit the hardest reporting 1,716 suspected cases with 19 deaths.

Overall in Kenya, 27 deaths have been recorded.

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease found in parts of the tropics, subtropics, and southern Europe. Leishmaniasis has several different forms.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most serious manifestation, which affects some of the internal organs of the body (such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow).

VL is predominantly transmitted through the bite of an infected female phlebotomine sand fly, although congenital and parenteral transmission (through blood transfusions and needle sharing) have been reported.