Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9899
ISSN: 2155-9899
Hirpa Adugna Abera, Geremew Tasew, Teshome Tsegaw, Asfaw Kejella, Abate Mulugeta, Dagimlidet Worku, Abraham Aseffa and Endalamaw Gadisa
Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Ethiopia
Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Ethiopia
Benishangul-Gumuz Regional Health Bureau, Ethiopia
World Health Organization, Ethiopia
KalaCORE Consortium, Ethiopia
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Cell Immunol
Kala-azar is a growing public health problem in Ethiopia. Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State was previously not known to be endemic for the disease. In response to a case report from the region, we conducted a rapid assessment survey. A pretested questionnaire was used to capture sociodemographic and clinical histories pertinent to kala-azar. Study participants with complaints of fever and headache for 2 weeks or more were tested for kala-azar and malaria. All participants were screened with the leishmanin skin test and the direct agglutination test for exposure to Leishmania, defined as a positive result with either or both tests. Of 275 participants, 20 were exposed giving an overall leishmaniasis seroprevalence rate of 7.3%. Among the 20 positive individuals, 19 were farmers and nine of them reported no travel history outside their district. It appears that kala-azar is emerging in Dangur and Guba districts of Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, probably in connection with human encroachment into one or several previously out-of-reach zoonotic foci. We recommend integrated epidemiological surveys for confirmation and early containment of disease transmission in the area.
Email: adugnabe@yahoo.com