Patna (Bihar Times): Bihar has witnessed a phenomenal rise in cases of kala-azar during 2007. The state registered 32,298 cases by end of October against 30,932 reported during the corresponding period in 2006. So far 140 death have been reported till October this year against 171 in 2006.

According to Dr C P Thakur, former Union Minister for Health and Chairman of the Kala-azar Task Force the disease spread because of “sand flies” and people living in the houses made of muds are more vulnerable to the disease.

He said the disease took an endemic form between 1930 and 1940 and the Centre had in 1953 launched a drive called as “malaria eradication programme” for checking the spread of the disease by extensive sprinkling of the DDT powder.

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