Somalia: Leishmaniasis Outbreak - Mar 2025

Since January 3, 2025, Erigavo Regional Hospital in the Sanaag region has reported five cases of leishmaniasis, a disease not historically prevalent in those areas of Somaliland. Among these cases, four tested positive for Leishmania IgG through Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), raising concerns about the potential emergence of a localized outbreak. Subsequent laboratory analysis confirmed two fatalities from Rugay and Cirshiida in Erigavo district, highlighting the severity of the situation. The most recent case (01) was offcially confirmed on February 26, 2025, as a kala-azar type, further underscoring the ongoing transmission risk. (IFRC, 19 Mar 2025)

The Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS), in collaboration with government authorities, mobilized support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). A request for financial assistance was submitted to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), enabling the rapid implementation of targeted interventions in the most affected areas. These interventions included intensified case detection, treatment of confirmed cases, vector control, and community awareness campaigns. Efforts continue to prevent further transmission, reduce morbidity and mortality, and maintain vigilance in high-risk areas of the Sanaag region. The implementation of this DREF, combined with the efforts of other response actors, contributed to reversing the epidemic trend, with a noticeable decline in cases across all affected districts. (IFRC, 1 Oct 2025)