Visceral leishmaniasis in new foci areas of Nepal: Sources and extent of infection
Background & objectives: The successful elimination program of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Nepal decreased the incidence to less than 1 per 10,000 population leading to the consolidation phase. However, new VL cases have been recorded from new districts, threatening the elimination goal. This...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Vector Borne Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jvbd.org/article.asp?issn=0972-9062;year=2023;volume=60;issue=4;spage=414;epage=420;aulast=Martschew |
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| author | Eva Martschew Ahmed Asa'ad Al-Aghbari Anand Ballabh Joshi Axel Kroeger Krishna Prasad Paudel Gokarna Dahal Uttam Raj Pyakurel Sonia Diaz-Monsalve Megha Raj Banjara |
| author_facet | Eva Martschew Ahmed Asa'ad Al-Aghbari Anand Ballabh Joshi Axel Kroeger Krishna Prasad Paudel Gokarna Dahal Uttam Raj Pyakurel Sonia Diaz-Monsalve Megha Raj Banjara |
| author_sort | Eva Martschew |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background & objectives: The successful elimination program of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Nepal decreased the incidence to less than 1 per 10,000 population leading to the consolidation phase. However, new VL cases have been recorded from new districts, threatening the elimination goal. This study monitors the geographical spread of VL and identifies potential risk factors.
Methods: VL data of 2017–2020 were obtained from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of Nepal and mapped. Telephonic interviews with 13 VL patients were conducted.
Results: The incidence maps indicate that VL is spreading to new areas. The target incidence exceeded four times in hilly and twice in mountainous districts. VL cases occurred in 64 of 77 districts in all three regions (mountainous, hilly and Terai). Interviews showed a correlation between travel history (private, commercial and for studies) and the spread of VL cases to new foci.
Interpretation & conclusion: One major challenge of VL elimination in the maintenance phase is the spread of infection through travelers to new foci areas, which needs to be under continuous surveillance accompanied by vector control activities. This should be confirmed by a large-scale analytical study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:48:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-31cc581117fb4334ac9cfcb3fbd1fcd2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0972-9062 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:48:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Vector Borne Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-31cc581117fb4334ac9cfcb3fbd1fcd22024-04-01T12:56:03ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Vector Borne Diseases0972-90622023-01-0160441442010.4103/0972-9062.383637Visceral leishmaniasis in new foci areas of Nepal: Sources and extent of infectionEva MartschewAhmed Asa'ad Al-AghbariAnand Ballabh JoshiAxel KroegerKrishna Prasad PaudelGokarna DahalUttam Raj PyakurelSonia Diaz-MonsalveMegha Raj BanjaraBackground & objectives: The successful elimination program of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Nepal decreased the incidence to less than 1 per 10,000 population leading to the consolidation phase. However, new VL cases have been recorded from new districts, threatening the elimination goal. This study monitors the geographical spread of VL and identifies potential risk factors. Methods: VL data of 2017–2020 were obtained from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of Nepal and mapped. Telephonic interviews with 13 VL patients were conducted. Results: The incidence maps indicate that VL is spreading to new areas. The target incidence exceeded four times in hilly and twice in mountainous districts. VL cases occurred in 64 of 77 districts in all three regions (mountainous, hilly and Terai). Interviews showed a correlation between travel history (private, commercial and for studies) and the spread of VL cases to new foci. Interpretation & conclusion: One major challenge of VL elimination in the maintenance phase is the spread of infection through travelers to new foci areas, which needs to be under continuous surveillance accompanied by vector control activities. This should be confirmed by a large-scale analytical study.http://www.jvbd.org/article.asp?issn=0972-9062;year=2023;volume=60;issue=4;spage=414;epage=420;aulast=Martschewvisceral leishmaniasis; elimination initiative; spread of vl; travel history |
| spellingShingle | Eva Martschew Ahmed Asa'ad Al-Aghbari Anand Ballabh Joshi Axel Kroeger Krishna Prasad Paudel Gokarna Dahal Uttam Raj Pyakurel Sonia Diaz-Monsalve Megha Raj Banjara Visceral leishmaniasis in new foci areas of Nepal: Sources and extent of infection Journal of Vector Borne Diseases visceral leishmaniasis; elimination initiative; spread of vl; travel history |
| title | Visceral leishmaniasis in new foci areas of Nepal: Sources and extent of infection |
| title_full | Visceral leishmaniasis in new foci areas of Nepal: Sources and extent of infection |
| title_fullStr | Visceral leishmaniasis in new foci areas of Nepal: Sources and extent of infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Visceral leishmaniasis in new foci areas of Nepal: Sources and extent of infection |
| title_short | Visceral leishmaniasis in new foci areas of Nepal: Sources and extent of infection |
| title_sort | visceral leishmaniasis in new foci areas of nepal sources and extent of infection |
| topic | visceral leishmaniasis; elimination initiative; spread of vl; travel history |
| url | http://www.jvbd.org/article.asp?issn=0972-9062;year=2023;volume=60;issue=4;spage=414;epage=420;aulast=Martschew |
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