Outbreak of kala azar: our experience in South Sudan

Abstract

Background: Worldwide kala azar affects around 500,000 people every year with at least 50,000 deaths annually. Gedaref state in east Sudan is the epicentre of visceral leishmaniasis in east Africa. Objectives of this study were to describe the outbreak of kala azar in South Sudan, from August 2009 to July 2010, in terms of person and time distribution and to describe the outbreak of kala azar in South Sudan, from August 2009 to Jul 2010, in terms of frequency of various clinical features and outcomeMethods: A prospective cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at South Sudan with cases of kala azar affected during an outbreak in South Sudan from August 2009 to July 2010. Statistical analysis was percentage.Results: This outbreak indicates the emergence or re-emergence of kala azar in South Sudan. Within the restrictions on movement because of the civil war, further research is needed to investigate the extent of the transmission zone and whether other populations in South Sudan have been infected and have no access to treatment.Conclusions: There is lack of awareness regarding dog bite and its management among the rural population.