Kala Azar in Bihar
Kala azar (the black fever) is the second largest parasitic killer in the world. Kala azar is one of the most dangerous neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Only malaria is more deadly.
The parasite spreads to humans by bites from infected female sand flies. It attacks the immune system, and is almost always fatal if not treated.
There are between 200,000 and 400,000 new cases a year, about 90 percent of which are in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sudan and Brazil.
Bihar has 80 per cent of the kala azar cases reported in India.
