Abstract: The paper includes a comprehensive review of the present status of kala-azar in China and the advances in relevant investigations and studies since I960. The disease was practically eradicated in most of the endemic areas in 1958 by means of mass treatment, sandfly control and destruction of infected dogs in areas with prevalence of canine leishma-niasis. Through relentless and sustained efforts in the control of the disease, no more fresh cases of kala-azar occurred in the provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hebei and Eastern Shaanxi over the past decade. In the meantime, the density of sandfly vector, Phlebotomus chinensis was greatly reduced, and in many villages completely eliminated. The results of leishmanin dermal test are all negative among the people under 15 years of age. During the last three years, only a few sporadic cases have been reported from the mountainous and desert areas in the northwest, including Xinjiang, Gansu, northern Shaanxi, Nei Mongol, Shanxi and Sichuan. Since 1964, epidemiological investigations have suggested the existence of natural nidus of visceral leishmaniasis in the deserts of Xinjiang and Nei Mongol, with Phlebotomus major wui as the vector. A large number of wild animals have been examined, but so far the reservoir hosts have net yet been ascertained. In addition, studies on epidemiology, sandfly vectors, special clinical manifestations and immunodiagnosis of kala-azar have been made with much progress. For ultimate control of kala-azar in China, suggestions are put forward on further control measures and research work.