Work

Adapting lessons from the Indian subcontinent to accelerate elimination of visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem in East Africa

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This viewpoint draws lessons from the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) as a public health problem in the Southeast Asia region (SEAR) to inform efforts in East Africa (EA), now the global epicenter of Leishmania donovani transmission. VL is fatal and there is no licensed vaccine. Success in India relied on robust surveillance, rapid diagnosis, single-dose treatment, vector control, and multi-partner coordination. EA faces additional challenges than SEAR with multiple sand fly vectors, sensitive diagnostics and longer treatment regimens, high population mobility, and gaps in ecological and epidemiological knowledge. We highlight how strategies from South Asia could be adapted while acknowledging EA's unique ecological and health system complexities. These insights aim to guide sustainable VL control towards elimination of VL as a public health concern in the region.

Source: PLoS neglected tropical diseases

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0014088

Authors: Eva Iniguez, Daniel Masiga, Caryn Bern, Sridhar Srikantiah

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, University of California, San Francisco

Language: English

Topic: Research on Leishmaniasis Studies

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Partnerships for the goals

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,670