India unlikely to meet goal of eliminating kala-azar by 2015, say experts
BMJ 2015; 351 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h4117 (Published 28 July 2015) Cite this as: BMJ 2015;351:h4117- Sophie Cousins
- 1Assam
Experts have cast doubt on whether India can reach its goal of eliminating kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) by the end of 2015 and have called for better surveillance.
In 2005 India signed a memorandum of understanding with Nepal and Bangladesh, undertaking to eliminate the neglected tropical disease by 2015. The goal is in line with the World Health Organization’s regional strategic framework (2011-2015) for elimination of the disease from its South East Asia region, which includes the three countries.
Elimination was defined as less than one case per 10 000 people at a district level.
However, recent research into the effectiveness of DDT spraying in Bihar—India’s poorest state, which has 70% of India’s cases of kala-azar—found that widespread vector resistance to DDT, …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £173 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£38 / $45 / €42 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.