Cluster of imported cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major among travellers returning from central Tunisia, France, October 2025 to May 2026
Between October 2025 and May 2026, 28 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major were identified at Toulouse University Hospital, France, contrasting with fewer than three cases diagnosed annually in 2019–2024. Epidemiological investigations linked 24 cases to recent travel to Tunisia, with 19 reporting exposure in the governorate of Sidi Bouzid, endemic for zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. These findings suggest increased transmission in central Tunisia and reinforce the need for surveillance of imported leishmaniasis in Europe.
Authors
- Emilie Guémas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0168-7575)
- Éléna Charpentier
- Judith Fillaux (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5277-189X)
- Antoine Berry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6626-7766)
- Xavier Iriart (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0998-8962)
- Pamela Chauvin
- Alexis Valentin
- Morgane Andreoletti
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Hôpital Purpan (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Eurosurveillance
- Published
- 2026-08-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.es.2026.31.32.2600605
- Primary Topic
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00