Neglected killer: Kala-azar surge in Kenya leaves record deaths, missed diagnoses

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.