Shortage of medicine, testing kits, as Wajir battles Kala-azar disease

Health officials are sounding the alarm over a critical shortage of test kits and medications necessary for managing Kala-azar, a parasitic disease caused by the Leishmania parasite.

As of March 20, 2025, Wajir County has reported at least 8 fatalities and over 500 cases of infection.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) emphasizes the urgent need for emergency medical intervention in Wajir County to alleviate the suffering of residents.

MSF added that the current scarcity of test kits and medications is significantly obstructing timely treatment and disease control efforts in the affected communities.

“Kala-azar, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is often overlooked, resulting in a dire shortage of both diagnostic and therapeutic resources,” MSF stated.

To address, MSF has partnered with local health authorities to set up temporary treatment wards for Kala-azar patients, ensuring that proper infection control measures are implemented.

Left untreated, Kala-azar, which represents the most severe form of Leishmaniasis and the second deadliest parasitic disease after Malaria, can result in a mortality rate of up to 95%.