Assam confirms outbreak of 'Kalazar'

Guwahati, Feb 27: An alert has been sounded in Assam following confirmation of 'Kalazhar' (black fever) in areas on the outskirts of the capital city of Guwahati.

Health department sources informed that the samples tested for suspected Kalazar have yielded positive results and the patients were likely to be shifted to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) shortly. The suspected cases of kalazar were reported from Panikhaiti area in Kamrup district last week, when several people in the area were admitted to the local hospital with kalazar symptoms.

The state health department had brought testing equipment from Patna and Dibrugarh and the results yesterday confirmed the outbreak of the disease. The health department has already sounded an alert and taken up prevention measures, including spraying of DDT and distribution of mosquito nets in the affected area.

UNI