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Leishmaniasis in Kenya (Update 2)

20 August 2019

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there have been 1 986 cases of leishmaniasis, from week 1 to week 31 in 2019. The last peak was observed in week 20 (week ending 19 May 2019). Marsabit county has reported 1 716 suspected cases with 19 deaths (CFR 1.1%), of which 456 tested positive by the rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Wajir County has reported 261 suspected cases with 7 deaths (CFR 2.7%), of which 27 tested positive by RDT. Since 29 June 2019, Garissa County has reported 9 confirmed cases with 1 death.

Advice for Travellers

All travellers to endemic regions should be made aware of Leishmania and its transmission.

Travellers should be advised to avoid sandfly bites by:

  • Avoiding outdoor activities after dusk where possible.
  • Covering skin with clothing where possible.
    • Consider permethrin impregnation of clothing when outdoor activity is unavoidable.
  • Using insect repellent e.g. DEET on exposed skin.
  • Sleeping under insecticide-impregnated bed nets (fine mesh size is required) or in air-conditioned rooms.
  • Using fans/ventilators which disrupt the movement of sandflies and sleeping elevated from the floor; sandflies are weak fliers.

There is no vaccine against human leishmaniasis.

For further information see Leishmaniasis.