##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##

The disease Visceral leishmaniasis is a tropical infection spread by female sandflies. This leishmaniasis affects the spleen, the liver, and bone marrow. Globally, between 0.7 million and 1 million cases of visceral leishmaniasis arise yearly. In Kenya, 4000 cases are reported yearly, while 5 million individuals are at risk of infection. If untreated, the visceral leishmaniasis death rate is more than 95%. The study aims to evaluate the mortality and the transmission rate among visceral leishmaniasis patients referred to the Marsabit County referral hospital. The study adopted a retrospective cohort design. The study used secondary data obtained from the Marsabit County referral hospital. The Susceptible, Infected, and Recovered (S.I.R) Model, was incorporated to evaluate the mortality rate, the transmission rate, and the level of endemicity. The findings revealed that the mortality rate, the transmission rate, and the level of endemicity were estimated at 13.19%, 13.67%, and 0.0141, respectively. In conclusion, the mortality rate increases as the transmission rate increase and there is a need for urgent responses from health personnel to reduce the transmission rate to reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality. The study recommended adopting the following measures; the mortality rate was 13.19%, and the prevalence of the disease was higher in males than among females which subsequently increases mortality among males therefore, there is a need to put more attention to males when creating awareness. The transmission rate was 13.67%, this rate can be reduced by reducing risk factors that are responsible for the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis. Creating awareness at the community level and seeking medication on time to reduce mortality from visceral leishmaniasis in Marsabit County.

References

  1. Alvar J, den Boer M, Dagne DA. Towards the elimination of visceral Leishmaniasis as a public health problem in East Africa: reflections on an enhanced control strategy and a call for action.The Lancet Global Health. 2021 Dec;9(12):e1763-e1769. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00392-2.
     Google Scholar
  2. Jones CM, Welburn SC. Leishmaniasis Beyond East Africa. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2021;8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.618766.
     Google Scholar
  3. Alvar J, den Boer M, Dagne DA. Towards the elimination of visceral Leishmaniasis as a public health problem in East Africa: reflections on an enhanced control strategy and a call for action. The Lancet Global Health. 2021 Dec;9(12):e1763-e1769. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00392-2
     Google Scholar
  4. Al-Salem W, Herricks JR, Hotez PJ. A review of visceral Leishmaniasis during the conflict in South Sudan and the consequences for East African countries. Parasites and Vectors. 2016;9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1743-7.
     Google Scholar
  5. Kolaczinski JH, Reithinger R, Worku DT, Ocheng A, Kasimiro J, Kabatereine N, Brooker S. Risk factors of visceral Leishmaniasis in East Africa: A case-control study in Pokot territory of Kenya and Uganda. International Journal of Epidemiology. 2008 Apr;37(2):344-352. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dym275.
     Google Scholar
  6. Kanyina EW. Characterization of Visceral Leishmaniasis Outbreak, Marsabit County, Kenya, 2014. B.M.C. Public Health. 2020 Jan;20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08532-9.
     Google Scholar
  7. Dye C. The logic of visceral Leishmaniasis control. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 1996 Aug;55(2):125-130. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1996.55.125.
     Google Scholar
  8. Ribas LM, Zaher VL, Shimozako HJ, Massad E. Estimating the optimal control of zoonotic visceral Leishmaniasis using a mathematical model. The Scientific World Journal. 2013;2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/810380.
     Google Scholar
  9. Zhao N, Schmitt M, Fisk J. Zhao et al-2016-FEBS Journal.
     Google Scholar
  10. Subramanian A, Singh V, Sarkar RR. Understanding Visceral Leishmaniasis Disease Transmission and Its Control-A Study Based on Mathematical Modeling. Mathematics. 2015 Sep;3(3).: https://doi.org/10.3390/math3030913.
     Google Scholar
  11. Bi K, Chen Y, Zhao S, Kuang Y, John Wu CH. Current Visceral Leishmaniasis Research: A Research Review to Inspire Future Study.
     Google Scholar
  12. Abubakar A, Ruiz-Postigo JA, Pita J, Lado M, Ben-Ismail R, rgaw D, Alvar J. Visceral Leishmaniasis Outbreak in South Sudan 2009-2012: Epidemiological Assessment and Impact of a Multisectoral Response. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014 Mar 27;8(3):e2720. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002720.
     Google Scholar
  13. Le Rutte EA, Chapman LAC, Coffeng LE, Ruiz-Postigo JA, Olliaro PL, Adams ER, Hasker EC, Boelaert MC, Hollingsworth TD, Medley GF, De Visceral leishmaniasis SJ. Policy recommendations from transmission modeling for eliminating visceral Leishmaniasis in the Indian subcontinent. Clin Infect Dis. 2018 Jun 1;66(suppl_4):S301-S308. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy007.
     Google Scholar