Characterization of visceral leishmaniasis outbreak, Marsabit County, Kenya, 2014.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by protozoa of the Leishmania donovani complex. Annually, an estimated 500,000 cases of VL are reported globally posing a public health challenge. The objectives of our study were to confirm and determine the magnitude of VL outbreak, characterize the outbreak clinically and epidemiologically and evaluate the county preparedness and response in Marsabit County, Kenya. METHODS:A retrospective review of laboratory registers and patients' clinical notes was done at Marsabit County Hospital. Cases were persons with confirmed VL diagnosis either by microscopy, serology or molecular technique coming from Marsabit County from May to October 2014. Cases were interviewed using structured questionnaire to collect clinical and epidemiologic information

SUBMITTER: Kanyina EW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7132962 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature