NEW DELHI – Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released its new guidelines for the treatment of people co-infected with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and HIV. The new guidelines are based on results of one study conducted in India by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and partners, and another in Ethiopia by the Drugs for Neglected … Read more
Kala azar or visceral leishmaniasis a neglected tropical disease and the second-largest parasitic killer in the world. India accounts for over 30% of the total kala azar cases in the world. 80% of these cases occur in Bihar. Since 2007, MSF is providing treatment for kala azar in Bihar. While there has been a sharp … Read more
Kala azar is one of the most dangerous neglected tropical diseases in the world. It is spread to humans by bites from infected female sand flies and attacks the immune system. While cases of the disease are declining steadily, kala azar-HIV co-infection is fast becoming a serious threat. After treating over 12,000 kala azar patients … Read more
Name : Designation : Interview conducted and written by Kavitha Devadas for MSF Kala azar is one of the most dangerous neglected tropical diseases in the world. It is spread to humans by bites from infected female sand flies and attacks the immune system. While cases of the disease are declining steadily, kala azar-HIV co-infection … Read more
Name : Designation : Interview conducted and written by Kavitha Devadas for MSF As well as suffering a lack of awareness and social stigma, kala azar-HIV co-infected patients are also prone to other infections, relapse more often and are at a greater risk of death. 39-year-old Zoya shares her story of recovery after being treated for … Read more
Kala azar Elimination is not possible without addressing the emerging issue of kala azar-HIV coinfection. As a disease that affects the most vulnerable and poorest in society, the deep-rooted stigma and the inadequate state of health facilities make this coinfection an urgent public health concern. The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders / Médecins … Read more
Treating kala azar-HIV co-infection in Bihar Kala jwar. Black fever. Dumdum fever. Visceral leishmaniasis. These are the many names by which kala azar is known. The disease spreads through the bite of a sandfly or balu makkhi and is almost always fatal if left untreated. India accounts for 50 per cent of the global burden of kala azar, and Bihar … Read more
Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been fighting kala azar in Bihar since 2007 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recently visited the MSF-run HIV–kala azar co-infection ward at the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS) Hospital in Patna, Bihar. Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar, Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda … Read more