Kala — Azar Outbreak in Kenya Escalates Amid Climate Concerns. Nairobi, Kenya — 2026-02-09 Lead Paragraph An outbreak of Kala-Azar, also known as visceral leishmaniasis, has seen a dramatic increase in Kenya, with cases more than doubling from 1,575 in 2024 to 3,577 in 2025.
The disease, which has a 95% fatality rate if left untreated, poses a significant health threat to vulnerable communities, especially in arid regions.
The situation is being exacerbated by climate change and a shortage of diagnostic and treatment facilities.
The rising incidence of Kala — Azar is being attributed to the expanding range of sandflies, the disease’s vectors, which are now reaching new regions due to changing weather patterns. Prolonged droughts followed by heavy rains create ideal breeding conditions for the sandflies, according to researcher Dr.
Cherinet Adera. “
Climate change is expanding the range of sandflies, “Dr. Adera explained, contributing to the disease’s spread.
The lack of proper diagnosis facilities is a critical concern. Harada Hussein Abdirahman, a 60-year-old from Mandera county, was misdiagnosed for a year before receiving the correct treatment for Kala-Azar. Her story is not uncommon in the affected areas, where there are only three treatment centers.
Treatment for Kala — Azar is rigorous, involving 30 days of daily injections and transfusions, which cost approximately $775 — a significant sum in the affected regions. This economic barrier, combined with the lack of facilities, is pushing many patients to the brink of despair.
The Kenyan government and health officials have yet to provide a detailed response to the escalating Kala — Azar crisis.
As the situation continues to develop, further details and potential interventions are expected.
The growing threat of the disease underscores the need for increased investment in diagnostic and treatment facilities, as well as research into the impact of climate change on neglected tropical diseases.
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Source: Kala-azar in Kenya: Crisis of Visceral Leishmaniasis — omnicuris.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
