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		Fact sheet No 116: The Leishmaniases and Leishmania/HIV Co-Infections - Revised May 2000 (WHO, 2000, 4 p.)
			(introduction...)
			Increased Prevalence
			Geographic Distribution
			Leishmania/HIV Co-infection
			Areas of Co-infection
			Specific Problems
			Epidemiological Changes
			The World Health Organization Response

Geographic Distribution

· The leishmaniases are now endemic in 88 countries on five continents - Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America - with a total of 350 million people at risk.
· It is believed that worldwide 12 million people are affected by leishmaniasis; this figure includes cases with overt disease and those with no apparent symptoms. Of the 1.5-2 million new cases of leishmaniasis estimated to occur annually, only 600 000 are officially declared.
· Of the 500 000 new cases of VL which occur annually, 90% are in five countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Nepal and Sudan.
· 90% of all cases of MCL occur in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru.
· 90% of all cases of CL occur in Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Peru, Saudi Arabia and Syria, with 1-1.5 million new cases reported annually worldwide.
· The geographical distribution of leishmaniasis is limited by the distribution of the sandfly, its susceptibility to cold climates, its tendency to take blood from humans or animals only and its capacity to support the internal development of specific species of Leishmania.