Leishmaniasis: The Impact of a Neglected Tropical Disease

The sandfly species Phlebotomus is highly prolific, with a single female capable of laying hundreds of eggs in mud walls and termite mounds, areas where impoverished communities often reside. This high reproductive rate contributes to visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, which ranks among the deadliest parasitic diseases globally, following malaria, with annual deaths estimated between 20,000 and 30,000. Two recent documentaries from the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) highlight the disease at a crucial juncture: while South Asia approaches near-elimination, East Africa faces an increasing burden.