Risk factors for the transmission of kala-azar in Fangak, South Sudan

Abstract

This article reports a case controlled study of kala-azar done in Fangak County in 2007. Fifty-six percent of the cases were under 5 years old. Most patients came for treatment two months or more after the onset of symptoms.

Outdoor night-time activities and the use of “smoking” (non-insecticide treated) bed nets were associated with kala-azar infection whereas the use of bed nets during the rainy season decreased the risk of infection.

It is recommended that there should be a greater distribution of treated bed nets and more kala-azar treatment centres in the county.

Note: This article reports the results of a study into some risk factors for the transmission of kala-azar in Fangak in 2007. There was another recent outbreak in this area on 2010 (1, 2). Recommendations were again made to distribute more treated bed nets and to open more kala-azar treatment centres. The official Ministry of Health guideline for the treatment of kala-azar is at the end of this article.