J Glob Health Sci. 2020 Jun;2(1):e3 https://doi.org/10.35500/jghs.2020.2.e3 pISSN 2671-6925·eISSN 2671-6933 Review Article Visceral leishmaniasis: a global overview Richard G. Wamai ,1 Jorja Kahn ,2 Jamie McGloin ,3 Galen Ziaggi 3 1Department of Cultures, Societies and Global Studies, Northeastern University, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Integrated Initiative for Global Health, Boston, MA, USA 2Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Northeastern University, College of Science, Boston, MA, USA 3Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Health Science, Boston, MA, USA Received: Feb 1, 2020 ABSTRACT Accepted: Mar 14, 2020 Correspondence to The leishmaniases are protozoan infections that are among the neglected tropical diseases Richard G. Wamai (NTDs). Over one billion people are at risk of these diseases in virtually all continents. Department of Cultures, Societies and Global These diseases debilitate large numbers of people, keeping them from full, productive lives. Studies, Northeastern University, College of Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe form of these diseases, killing more people Social Sciences and Humanities, Integrated Initiative for Global Health, 360 Huntington than any other parasitic disease except malaria. About 90% of the global burden for VL is Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA. found in just 7 countries, 4 of which are in Eastern Africa (Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia E-mail:
[email protected] and Kenya), 2 in Southeast Asia (India, Bangladesh) and Brazil, which carries nearly all of cases in South America. In 2005 the World Health Organization launched a strategy to © 2020 Korean Society of Global Health.