The latest WHO regional bulletin covers in some detail the burden of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Chad and also notes an increase in cases since mid-2018 which has affected N’Djamena and, in particular, gold miners in the desert provinces of Borkou and Tibesti. Peak transmission periods are said to be between April and November. VL is not a notifiable condition in Chad and the true extent of the disease incidence is far from clear due to a lack of control programs and surveillance.
Advice for travellers
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease found in parts of the tropics, subtropics, and southern Europe. There are two main forms – cutaneous and visceral – both transmitted by bites from infected sand flies. The former causes skin ulcers and the latter a severe systemic disease that is usually fatal without treatment. India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Brazil account for 90% of visceral leishmaniasis, while 90% of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases occur in Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, as well as the South American countries of Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. Read more on the disease and prevention.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.