KOCHI: Kala azar or black fever, a disease caused by sand fly, has been reported in a resident of Ponganchuvad Adivasi colony of Vengoor panchayat at Kunnathunad taluk in the district.Kala azar is a rare occurrence in Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram Medical College reported two cases in 2005 and 2016, reports said. In 2015, there were three cases reported at Thrissur and Malappuram . This year, one case was detected in Kollam.District collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla on Wednesday visited the man diagnosed with the disease. The collector also gave directions to the officials of the health department and the scheduled tribes development department to provide required treatment and transportation for the patient.The resident was diagnosed with the disease during a medical camp conducted at the colony by the health department. To arrest the disease that is propagated by sand flies, the district health officials have taken measures to eliminate flies by using indoor residual spray on the premises of the house of the victim.Officials said the steps to detect the presence of causative organism ‘leshmania’ parasite in sand flies have been progressing under the leadership of Dr N Pradeep Kumar of Vector Control Research Centre.About 12 students studying at the Government U P School in Idamalayar was reported to be affected by chicken pox and about eight of the total students hail from the Ponganchuvad adivasi colony.Meanwhile, district medical officer N K Kuttappan said apart from the routine medical camp that was being conducted once in every month in the colony, special camps were also being conducted.

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