A deadly kala-azar outbreak is claiming lives in Kenya’s arid regions, with cases more than doubling in 2025. Misdiagnoses and a lack of treatment facilities are exacerbating the crisis, as climate change expands the sandfly’s range. The disease, fatal if untreated, disproportionately affects the poorest communities.
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Neglected killer: Kala-azar surge in Kenya leaves record deaths, missed diagnoses
February 9, 2026A deadly kala-azar outbreak is claiming lives in Kenya’s arid regions, with cases more than doubling in 2025. Misdiagnoses and a lack of treatment facilities are exacerbating the crisis, as climate change expands the sandfly’s range. The disease, fatal if untreated, disproportionately affects the poorest communities.