Symposium - Indian Kala-azar - Better Tools Needed for Diagnosis and Treatment

In India, kala-azar (Visceral leishmaniasis; VL) affects millions of people, and the state of Bihar accounts for nearly 90% cases, followed by West Bengal and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Neighboring countries like Nepal (Terai region) and Bangladesh also report a significant number of cases with VL. Ever since the first reports from North Bihar in the early seventies, there has been a continuous occurrence of the disease with two big epidemics in 1977-78 and 1992-93. Most of the affected population is very poor and illiterate and not aware of the preventive measures. These patients cannot afford expensive diagnosis or treatment.