The article highlights India’s recent successes in tackling two significant public health issues: kala-azar and trachoma. While outbreaks of diseases often create a sense of urgency and concern, achieving lasting solutions can be challenging. India has made remarkable progress in bringing kala-azar close to elimination as a public health threat, alongside efforts to eradicate trachoma.
To know more about Kala Azar’s symptoms causes and transmissions visit- https://pwonlyias.com/current-affairs/kala-azar-often-known-as-black-fever/
The country aims to secure certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating kala-azar after successfully reducing the number of cases to below one in 10,000 for two consecutive years. This disease is the second deadliest parasitic illness in India, following malaria. According to the Union Health Ministry, India reported 595 cases and four deaths from kala-azar in 2023 and 339 cases with one death so far this year. To qualify for WHO certification, India must maintain this low number for another year.
The article clarifies the difference between “elimination” and “eradication” of diseases. Elimination means keeping the number of cases below a certain threshold so that the disease no longer poses a public health risk, while eradication means completely eradicating all cases. Achieving eradication is extremely difficult and has only been successfully done with smallpox. On the other hand, elimination, while still challenging, has been achieved in other cases. This is particularly true for diseases like kala-azar and trachoma, which currently do not have effective vaccines available.
Kala-azar is transmitted by sandflies that carry the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani, leading to visceral leishmaniasis, whereas trachoma, caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. India accounts for approximately 11.5% of global kala-azar cases, and in the 1970s, trachoma was responsible for 5% of all blindness in the country.
Both diseases fall under the category of “neglected tropical diseases,” often linked to poverty and poor sanitation. The government’s sustained public health campaigns, which addressed both the spread of these diseases and their social implications—like income and access to healthcare—have played a crucial role in achieving elimination.
Despite these achievements, the article emphasizes the importance of continued monitoring and vigilance, especially as India moves closer to eliminating kala-azar and has declared progress against trachoma. Celebrating the success of public health efforts is important, but it is equally vital to avoid complacency, as both diseases still exist in the community at low levels. Continuous efforts to develop better treatments and vaccines should not cease due to current successes. The call for ongoing vigilance is crucial until these diseases are entirely eradicated, ensuring that hard-won gains are preserved.
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