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Because of the anticipated substantial increase in Leishmania/HIV co-infections, they are among the priorities for WHO's Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response (CSR).
· In 1996, WHO established an initial surveillance system, comprised of 14 institutions in 10 countries. A standardized Case Report Form was elaborated and endorsed by the members of the network, and a Central International Registry was set up within WHO to centralize, process and disseminate information on co-infections.· In 1998, a new WHO/Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) initiative was launched which helped strengthen the surveillance network; it has been expanded to include 28 institutions, especially in East Africa and the Indian subcontinent (India, Nepal). All member institutions of the network report to WHO on an annual basis. A computerized Geographic Information System (GIS) is used to map and monitor co-infections in a way that permits easy visualization and analysis of epidemiological data.
The evolution of Leishmania/HIV co-infection is being closely monitored by extending the geographic coverage of the surveillance network and by improving case reporting. WHO encourages active medical surveillance, especially in south-western Europe, of intravenous drug users, the main population at risk. Finally, because case notification of leishmaniasis is compulsory in only 40 of the 88 endemic countries, WHO strongly suggests the remaining 48 endemic countries follow suit.
For further information, please contact the Office of the Press Spokesperson, WHO, Geneva, Tel.: +41 22 791 2599; Fax +41 22 791 4858; E-mail: inf@who.int or Dr Philippe Desjeux, Tel.: +41 22 791 3870/3186; Fax: +41 22 791 4878; E-mail: Desjeuxp@who.int All WHO press releases, fact sheets and features are available on Internet on the WHO home page: https://www.who.int
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