by Chowdhury R, Hazarika A, Sultana S, Hossain MS, Saha S, Nabi SG, Sohel ANM, Rana MJ, Rahman M, Khan MH, Maheswary NP, Kroeger A, Yajima A, Mondal D, Adnan SD, Jhora ST, Islam MN, Basher A, Shamsuzzaman AKM, Ahmed BN, Faiz MA, Alvar J, Bern C, Aktaruzzaman MM. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2026;20(2):e0013949. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013949
Summary: In 2023, Bangladesh was the first country validated by the WHO for eliminating visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) as a public health problem – defined as <1 case per 10,000 population annually at the subdistrict level. The National Kala-azar Elimination Programme implemented key strategies: early diagnosis and treatment, indoor residual spraying (IRS), improved case detection, social mobilization, operational research, and digital surveillance. Rapid diagnostics and updated treatment protocols were introduced in subdistrict health complexes, alongside blanket IRS campaigns and digital surveillance adoption. By 2017, all subdistricts had achieved and sustained the elimination threshold. This success reflects strong programmatic coordination and evidence-based interventions. The authors of this manuscript outline the elimination journey and highlight essential components to sustain progress and prevent resurgence.
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