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."