Listen to Story Spraying insecticide inside homes in Indian villages to combat sandflies, which transmit visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), was found to reduce their numbers by 27% between 2016 and 2022, according to a study. The study, which included researchers from CARE India and AIIMS Patna, suggests that using the insecticide alpha-cypermethrin in homes where visceral leishmaniasis cases are reported could potentially decrease the prevalence of this vector-borne disease by 6-40%. This insecticide is commonly used on crops like cotton, cereals, and soybeans.
Conducted in 900 homes across 50 villages in Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, regions where kala-azar is endemic, the research was part of an elimination program initiated in 2015. The study's findings were published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. Visceral leishmaniasis is caused by leishmania parasites, transmitted through the bites of phlebotomine sandflies.
It primarily affects internal organs such as the liver, bone marrow, and spleen, leading to symptoms like fever, weight loss, and anemia. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), most cases occur in Brazil, East Africa, and India.
Visceral leishmaniasis is caused by leishmania parasites, transmitted through the bites of phlebotomine sandflies. (Photo: Getty Images) The study also noted that kala-azar accounts for 12.5% of the cost of indoor insecticide spraying to control vector-borne diseases .