Visceral leishmaniasis: situation diagnosis from the perspective of disease control in Brazil

Leishmaniasis is a group of neglected diseases that are highly prevalent worldwide, mainly in the developing world, and can take on severe forms. They are transmitted to the man by the bite of phlebotomines, existing a range of animal reservoirs, among which the dog is considered the main urban host. In this context, leishmaniasis, mainly the visceral form, has been urbanized in Brazil, reaching large urban centers throughout the country. In addition, recently, new areas previously unaffected started to present autochthonous cases of human visceral leishmaniasis. The expansion of the disease to new areas has demonstrated the failure of the measures recommended by national health agencies and calls for a new control model in which popular awareness and environmental management are priority actions.