Elimination of visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem in Bangladesh: Lessons learned and questions remaining

In 2023, Bangladesh became the first country to achieve World Health Organization (WHO) validation of elimination of visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem, defined as maintenance of annual kala-azar incidence at <1 case per 10,000 population at the subdistrict (upazila) level. The pillars of the programme are early diagnosis and effective treatment, indoor residual insecticide spraying, improved case detection, social mobilization and operational research, and effective disease surveillance. The Bangladesh National Kala-azar Elimination Programme was established in 2008, with introduction of rapid diagnostics and newer treatment modalities in health complexes at sub-district level in the endemic area in 2012-2015, initiation of blanket IRS in affected communities in 2012-2013 and adoption of a digital surveillance system in 2015. All subdistricts achieved and maintained the elimination threshold from 2017 onward. We present documentation of the course of KA elimination in Bangladesh and provide a perspective on the components necessary to maintain current success into the future.

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Journal
PLoS neglected tropical diseases
Published
2026-02-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013949
Primary Topic
Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
Type
article
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0.00
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article

Elimination of visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem in Bangladesh: Lessons learned and questions remaining

Ariful Basher, Sanya Tahmina Jhora, Sabera Sultana, Narayan Prosad Maheswary et al.
PLoS neglected tropical diseases
Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
article

Elimination of visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem in Bangladesh: Lessons learned and questions remaining

Ariful Basher, Sanya Tahmina Jhora, Sabera Sultana, Narayan Prosad Maheswary, Abu Nayeem Mohammad Sohel, S Nadya, RAJIB CHOWDHURY, Abul Khair Mohammad Shamsuzzaman, Md Abul Faiz, Aya Yajima, Caryn Bern, Md Mizanur Rahman, Axel Kroeger, Md Jewel Rana, Dinesh Mondal, Mallick Mohammad Aktaruzzaman, Md Sakhawat Hossain, Be-Nazir Ahmed, Anupama Hazarika, Manzurul Haque Khan, Jorge Alvar, Shah Golam Nabi, Md Nazmul Islam, Sheikh Daud Adnan
article en

Abstract

In 2023, Bangladesh became the first country to achieve World Health Organization (WHO) validation of elimination of visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem, defined as maintenance of annual kala-azar incidence at <1 case per 10,000 population at the subdistrict (upazila) level. The pillars of the programme are early diagnosis and effective treatment, indoor residual insecticide spraying, improved case detection, social mobilization and operational research, and effective disease surveillance. The Bangladesh National Kala-azar Elimination Programme was established in 2008, with introduction of rapid diagnostics and newer treatment modalities in health complexes at sub-district level in the endemic area in 2012-2015, initiation of blanket IRS in affected communities in 2012-2013 and adoption of a digital surveillance system in 2015. All subdistricts achieved and maintained the elimination threshold from 2017 onward. We present documentation of the course of KA elimination in Bangladesh and provide a perspective on the components necessary to maintain current success into the future.

PLoS neglected tropical diseasesVol. 20(2)
World Health Organization - Pakistan (PK), Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (CH), University of Freiburg (DE), University of California, San Francisco (US), Bangladesh University (BD), International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (BD), Green University of Bangladesh (BD), Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tandil (AR), World Health Organization (CH), World Health Organization Regional Office for South-East Asia (IN), Dhaka Community Hospital Trust (BD), Child Health Research Foundation (BD), National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (BD), Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (BD), Directorate General of Health Services (BD), World University of Bangladesh (BD), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (BD), Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (BD), Green Cross International (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 48%
Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
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