Six children have died and many more are sick following an outbreak of Kala-azar, a deadly disease carried by the sand fly, in Wajir, northern Kenya. The disease has spread dramatically since March this year and over 180 cases have been reported across the district.
On-going drought has exacerbated the situation and high levels of malnutrition and low immunity have meant that local communities, especially young children, are vulnerable to the disease.
Kala-azar is the second-largest parasitic killer in the world, responsible for an estimated half-million deaths worldwide each year. The sand fly, often found in dry river beds and mud huts, bites the victim transferring a deadly strain of the leishmaniasis parasite. If left untreated, the parasite can spread to the internal organs and kill.
Working closely with the Ministry of Health and other NGOs, Merlin is the lead agency working to tackle the disease across the district.
How we are responding
Children aged between one and five are particularly vulnerable to Kala-azar and so we’ve set up a specialist centre to treat patients and stop the disease spreading. Currently 42 children are being treated by our expert medical team at Wajir district hospital.
We have also drafted in Merlin’s Kala-azar expert, Dr Maurice, to provide expert guidance to medical teams operating across the region.
Dr Maurice commented:
“If left untreated, Kala-azar can lead to substantial swelling of the liver and spleen ultimately resulting in death. However it can be treated with a simple course of antibiotics. We give health workers the skills, knowledge and equipment to manage the outbreak effectively.”
Merlin is also training health staff to recognise the symptoms of the disease ensuring quick, accurate diagnosis of patients. We are operating mobile outreach services helping to reach remote communities and ensuring that medical teams have adequate drug supplies.
Kala-azar is endemic to the area however few people are aware of the symptoms and treatment available. To make sure local communities know about the disease, we are mobilising an existing network of village volunteers, helping them to educate the largely pastoralist community about prevention techniques such as bed nets and sprays. We also teach them to recognise the disease and refer patients for treatment.
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