Visceral leishmaniasis outbreak in Kenya—a setback to the elimination efforts

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), or Kala-azar, is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases (NTD). The protozoa of the Leishmania donovani complex cause this disease, the major species being L. donovani. More than 95% of the global VL cases are reported from 10 countries in South Asia, Africa, and South America. In Africa, VL is mainly reported in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. East Africa is second only to India.En the number of human cases of VL and has been challenging regarding leishmaniasis control and elimination. The ongoing outbreak of VL in Kenya is a significant setback to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2021–30 NTD roadmap for the global elimination of visceral leishmaniasis. In addition, it has stretched the fragile healthcare infrastructure in Kenya.