Kala-azar outbreak in Dinajpur
Our Correspondent, Dinajpur
Two persons died of kala-azar or visceral leishmaniasis, and 35 were affected in Parbatipur and Phulbari upazilas in the last four days where an outbreak of the deadly parasitic fever is feared.Sources in Phulbari and Parbatipur health complexes said among the 35 affected patients, the condition of five is critical. The civil surgeon of Dinajpur yesterday admitted the outbreak of the disease in the district. He said they have an adequate reserve of vaccines, which have already been sent to the affected areas. But locals said they are facing an acute crisis of the rare vaccines for the disease, which is attacking mostly children. The Dinajpur Medical Collage duty physician told The Daily Star sand flies help spread the disease, which destroys the immune system. He said kala-azar is curable in 15 to 20 days if proper treatment is taken. Panic is prevailing among the villagers, who are on the verge of leaving their houses, sources said.
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