Visceral Leishmaniasis - China, 2015-2019

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important vector-borne disease in rural areas of western China. The spreading of VL made its prevention and control become more complicated.

The number of VL cases decreased from 2015 (n=498) to 2019 (n=166). However, the mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (MT-ZVL) cases increased from 2015 (n=82, 16.5%) to 2019 (n=122, 73.5%). In addition, both number and proportion of imported cases increased from 2015 (n=18, 3.6%) to 2019 (n=41, 24.7%). The re-emergence of MT-ZVL was considerable; 13 historically-endemic counties reported 48 indigenous cases. Infants and young children were the high risk population of VL (848, 62.4%) followed by farmers (303, 22.3%).

Both MT-ZVL and imported cases showed an increasing trend in China. Therefore, two actions are needed to control VL: 1) to prevent re-emergence and spreading of MT-ZVL; and 2) to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment to avoid fatal VL cases, especially in non-endemic areas.