4 December 2017 | Dhaka | Geneva −−Bangladesh is close to eliminating visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem by 2020, with only 159 new cases in 2016, compared with more than 9 600 in 2006. The spectacular achievement is the result of a combination of factors: strong community engagement, a motivated workforce, availability of medicine, easy-to-use diagnostics and an integrated vector control programme.

A recent monitoring mission evaluated the national programme’s overall impact.

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03 August 2017 | Geneva –– The first free, on-line course on a neglected tropical disease is now available to the public.

The course on post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) aims to help health workers and field practitioners recognize this form of the disease which is often misdiagnosed. Anyone completing the course with a minimum score of 70% will be awarded a certificate.

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26 June 2017 | Geneva | Nairobi ––The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched medical supplies to Kenya in response to an outbreak of visceral leishmaniasis in Marsabit County, with a population of over 290 000.

According to local media, four people have died as a result of this outbreak.

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11 November 2016 | New Delhi | Geneva –– Three countries that were once highly endemic for visceral leishmaniasis are poised to eliminate the disease as a public health problem by 2020.

Bangladesh, India and Nepal have lowered the number of new cases and as the three countries approach elimination, WHO's Regional Office for South-East Asia has published the process to validate the elimination of this form of leishmaniasis.

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27 September 2016 ¦ Geneva –– The World Health Organization (WHO) and Gilead Sciences have signed a new agreement that allows the pharmaceutical company to donate medicines for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.
Under the new 5-year collaboration and until 2021, Gilead Sciences have also agreed to provide financial assistance for the expansion of leishmaniasis surveillance and control.
Visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in more than 80 countries worldwide.

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