Ongoing Epidemic of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis among Syrian Refugees, Lebanon

Abstract

In September 2012, a cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreak began among Syrian refugees in Lebanon. For 948 patients in whom leishmaniasis was not confirmed, we obtained samples for microscopic confirmation and molecular speciation. We identified Leishmania tropica in 85% and L. major in 15% of patients. After 3 months of megulamine antimonite therapy, patients initial cure rate was 82%.

Keywords

• Cutaneous leishmaniasis
• refugees
• Leishmania
• protozoa
• Syria
• Lebanon