Visceral Leishmaniasis Outbreak Investigation in Borena Zone, Ethiopia

Background Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania parasites, infects mammals transmitted by Phlebotomine sand-flies and mostly affects the poorest. VL distributed worldwide and prevalent in Ethiopia. Knowing occurrence of disease and risk factor is a remedy for controlling. The aim of study was to identify factors associated with VL. Among all, 153 suspected cases, 9 suspected deaths were reported; 33 (22%) cases and 3 deaths were verified for VL. Among 33 verified cases 15(45.5%) were in July 2019, in comparison of 4years data, there is surge cases in July-August 2019, 26(79%) of cases were from Dire, Attack Rate (AR) = 15/100,000, CFR=9.1%. Among all, 15-64year were highly affected with AR=19.3. A case control engaged 99(100%) respondents and among all 93(93.9%) were male, 68(68.8%) were 15-64years. Adult education Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 30.438(2.378, 389.602), bed-net AOR=9.024 (1.763, 46.205) and walling AOR=0.052(0.004, 0.739) were associated factors with VL at 95%CI with p-value<0.05.