Kala-azar Control in West Bengal: Where Do We Stand Today?

Author(s)	Dr. Smriti Ghosh
Country	India
Abstract	Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), commonly referred to as kala-azar, is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by Leishmania donovani and transmitted by the bite of infected Phlebotomus argentipes sandflies. India, particularly the eastern states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, factually contributed the majority of the global burden of this neglected tropical disease. Considerable progress has been achieved towards elimination, and India attained the national elimination target—defined as fewer than one case per 10,000 population at the block level—in 2023. Nevertheless, sporadic outbreaks and newly reported cases from several districts of West Bengal indicate that, although transmission has been substantially reduced, the disease has not been completely eradicated. This short review highlights the current epidemiological status of kala-azar in West Bengal, factors contributing to its re-emergence, and the remaining public health challenges in sustaining elimination.
Keywords	Visceral leishmaniasis, kala-azar, West Bengal, Leishmania donovani, elimination, resurgence
Field	Biology > Medical / Physiology
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On	2025-12-28
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.64690

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