Cutaneous Leishmaniasis outbreak in Anzá, Antioquia, Colombia, 2021 Brote de leishmaniasis cutánea

Abstract

Background: The municipality of Anzá reported 12 cases in 2021, with an incidence of 167.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The objective was to confirm the presence of an outbreak of cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Materials and methods: Two-phase outbreak study: description of the cases reported in the Public Health Surveillance System between 2020 and epidemiological week 21 of 2021, and the case-control study was carried out, with two controls per case. Measures of central tendency, dispersion and frequency distribution were calculated, the epidemic curve was elaborated, the risk factors were determined, and the OR (95% CI) were analyzed).

Results: Nine confirmed cases were detected; 27 surveys were done (9 cases and 18 controls) in two neighborhoods and one village. 77.8% (7) of cases occurred in men, 44.4% (4) in people between 21 and 31 years old. In the active community search, four cases were detected and in the institutional search, eight possible cases without confirmed diagnosis were detected. The vectors Lutzomyia yuilli yuilli and Lutzomyia gomezi were identified in the area. Having relatives with cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the last year was evidenced as a risk (OR: 10.0; 95% CI: 1.55-64.2).

Conclusions: An outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis was confirmed in Anzá; an increased risk was determined in those who lived with family members affected by the disease in the last year. Similar sanitary and environmental conditions were evidenced in the urban and rural area. It is necessary to strengthen prevention and diagnosis measures timely.