What is it?
Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by a parasite that is spread by sandflies. It occurs throughout the world, but especially in tropical regions and around the Mediterranean. In the Netherlands the disease cannot spread further, because sandflies are not present here. There are more than twenty different types of leishmaniasis that can cause infection in people.
Symptoms depend on the type of parasite and may include skin complaints, damage to the mucous membranes, or damage to the internal organs. When only the skin is affected, the disease clears up on its own and is not fatal; with the two other forms, the disease can be fatal if it is not treated.
How do you catch it?
The type found around the Mediterranean is passed to people from dogs or rats via sandflies. With other types, the parasite can be passed directly to people via sandflies. Person-to-person transmission is possible in certain situations (contaminated needles during drug use, blood transfusion or, exceptionally, during childbirth). Depending on the type, the parasite can also be passed to people from foxes, wolves, hares and various rodents via a sandfly.
Sandflies are mainly active between sunset and sunrise. Sandflies are small and are barely noticed. They fly silently and their bite is hardly felt. They are poor fliers and tend to stay low to the ground. Depending on the type, the incubation period can range from a week to as much as 10 years.
How do you prevent it?
You can reduce infection with the parasite by keeping sandflies at a distance: wear protective clothing and use insect repellents and mosquito nets. Dogs, cats and other animals should also be protected. This can be done with a special collar or with drops. There is no vaccine against leishmaniasis.
Besides the conditions at your destination, your personal circumstances and travel plans are decisive factors in the preparations you may need to make — or are required to make — before you travel. You are welcome to come to us for expert travel health advice.
The above description is only a general, concise and simplified overview and is intended for information purposes only. No rights can be derived from it. Personal advice is given exclusively during a consultation with a specially trained Certified Travel Health Physician or Travel Health Assistant.