Kala-azar elimination programme in India.

Kala-azar has been endemic in India for a long time. Phlebotomus argentipes, the vector became resurgent during 70s in four districts of Bihar and slowly spread to other parts of south Bihar and several districts of West Bengal. Kala-azar is a present endemic in 31 districs of Bihar, 4 districts of Jharkhand, 11 districts of West Bengal besides occurring is sporadic form in far districts of eastern UP. With enhanced central support to states from December, 2003 the case registration has improved. Elimination strategy lies in the followings: Case detection and treatment; interruption of transmission through vector control; advocacy, communication for behavioral impact and inter-sectoral convergence; capacity building; monitoring, supervision and evaluation and operational research. Moreover, inter-country co-ordination and assistance by Government of India are very important in elimination of kala-azar.