Manual of procedures for surveillance and control of leishmaniasis in the Americas

Overview

Leishmaniasis – zoonotic and vector-borne diseases are a public health problem in the Americas. Its complex biological cycle includes different species of parasites, both reservoirs and vectors, which cause in the infected human a set of clinical syndromes that can compromise the skin, mucous membranes and viscera. In the Americas, specifically, they are presented with high magnitude and wide distribution. In addition, the main risk factors, resulting from local social, economic and environmental processes, greatly increase the number of the population at risk of infection

In addition, the surveillance and control actions presented are proposed for the different scenarios epidemiology of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis – Areas with and without transmission – considering the specific characteristics of the environment, the transmission pattern, human cases, vectors and reservoirs, so that actions are prioritized and resources invested in the prevention and control, and adapt each intervention to the local epidemiological context.