Q. Which is the first country in the world to be officially validated by WHO for eliminating kala azar as a public health problem?
Answer:
Bangladesh
Notes: In October, Bangladesh became the first country in the world to be officially validated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for eliminating kala azar as a public health problem.
After missing the deadline thrice, India is set to achieve the elimination target for visceral leishmaniasis or kala azar this year with no block in the country reporting more than one case per 10,000 people. India needs to sustain its momentum over the next three years in order to receive the WHO certification. Kala azar is a parasitic infection transmitted by sandflies. It causes fever, weight loss, and spleen and liver enlargement.