Disease

Leprosy Suspected in 2 California Kids

Two schoolchildren in California are suspected of having leprosy, but where might they have caught the disease?

This week, officials in Riverside Country (which is near Los Angeles) said they are investigating the suspected cases of leprosy, now usually called Hansen's disease, at an elementary school in the area. Nursing staff at the school first notified officials about the possible infections on Sept. 2, but it will take several weeks to confirm them.

Cases of Hansen's disease in the United States are rare, but they do occur, with about 100 to 200 cases typically reported each year, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kala-Azar Outbreak in Upper Nile, South Sudan

Health authorities in South Sudan are collaboratively stepping up preventing measures to contain the increase in the number of cases of visceral leishmaniasis, commonly known as kala-azar in Upper Nile region.

So far this year, it added, 1,163 cases and 42 deaths (case fatality rate of 3.6 per cent) have been reported from 18 treatment centres. The majority were from Lankien (467), followed by Old Fangak (276), Melut (68), Kurwai (64), and Ulang (42). Suspected cases have also been reported in Baliet and Adong in Upper Nile.