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Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania that are transmitted to humans by the bites of infected female sand flies. The disease remains a military medical surveillance interest because of deployments to endemic areas of the Middle East. It is also endemic in many other regions including Africa, Mexico, Southern Europe, Asia, and South and Central America. This report provides an update on the frequencies, rates, and demographic characteristics of U.S. service members who were diagnosed/ reported with leishmaniasis while expanding analysis to include information on the location of acquisition of leishmaniasis infection during a 2001-2016 surveillance period. Here are key findings from the surveillance period: • There were 2,040 incident diagnoses/ reports of leishmaniasis among members of the U.S. Armed Forces. • Cutaneous Leishmaniasis accounted for 61.0% of total diagnoses/ reports among active duty service members. • 71.1% of the total leishmaniasis case were diagnosed or reported during the 7 months from early autumn to spring (September – March) in the northern hemisphere. • The majority of cases diagnosed or reported during this 7-month interval were acquired in the Middle East, South/Central America and other or unknown locations. Learn more information at Health.mil/MSMR

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania that are transmitted to humans by the bites of infected female sand flies. This report provides an update on the frequencies, rates, and demographic characteristics of U.S. service members who were diagnosed/ reported with leishmaniasis while expanding analysis to include information on the location of acquisition of leishmaniasis infection during a 2001-2016 surveillance period.

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