Deadly Kala-Azar Surges in Kenya: A Silent Killer Spreads

Kenya is experiencing a significant surge in kala-azar, a dangerous neglected tropical disease transmitted by sandflies. Health ministry data shows cases dramatically increased from 1,575 in 2024 to 3,577 in 2025. This rise is attributed to changing climatic conditions and expanding human settlements, pushing the disease into previously unaffected areas and increasing the risk for millions.

Harada Hussein Abdirahman, a 60-year-old from Mandera county, suffered for nearly a year due to repeated misdiagnoses of her kala-azar. The disease, if untreated, has a 95 percent fatality rate and causes symptoms like fever, weight loss, and enlarged spleen and liver. Abdirahman's experience highlights the critical lack of diagnostic and treatment facilities, with only three capable of handling kala-azar in the affected northeastern region.

East Africa accounts for over two-thirds of global kala-azar cases. Experts warn that climate change is expanding the range of sandflies, leading to potential outbreaks in new locations. Efforts are underway, with six African nations adopting a framework in Nairobi in 2023 to eliminate the disease by 2030, but significant challenges remain, including insufficient facilities and the high cost of treatment.

The disease disproportionately affects the poorest communities, exacerbated by malnutrition and weakened immunity. Health officials anticipate an increase in cases with the onset of the rainy season. The lengthy treatment, often lasting up to 30 days, involves daily injections and can be prohibitively expensive, underscoring the urgent need for better equipped facilities and trained personnel.