Leishmaniasis in Iraq: Endemic Persistence Amidst Conflict and Displacement

Leishmaniasis remains a neglected yet persistent public health challenge in Iraq, where both cutaneous (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are endemic. This review examines how decades of armed conflict, mass displacement, and healthcare system deterioration have facilitated the resurgence and geographic spread of the disease, including into previously unaffected regions such as Kurdistan. Vulnerable populations, particularly children, rural residents, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), bear the brunt of the disease due to poor sanitation, limited healthcare access, and inadequate vector control. Despite high treatment success rates with intralesional sodium stibogluconate, delayed diagnosis and restricted drug availability hinder effective management. Diagnostic limitations and underreporting further obscure the true disease burden. However, localized programs, such as the successful VL control initiative in Thi Qar Province, demonstrate the potential impact of targeted public health responses. Key recommendations include strengthening national surveillance, decentralizing diagnostic and treatment services, implementing context-specific vector control, and integrating leishmaniasis care into humanitarian aid for displaced populations. Public awareness campaigns should be tailored to local cultural and media contexts. Addressing leishmaniasis in Iraq requires a coordinated, multisectoral approach that considers the ongoing conflict, fragile health infrastructure, and regional mobility patterns. Cross-border cooperation and sustained support from international partners are essential to mitigate further spread and reduce disease burden.

کلیدواژه ها:

Conflict ، Displacement ، Iraq ، Leishmaniasis ، public health