Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Prevalence in Northwest Libya from 2019 to 2026

Abstract

In Libya, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a serious vector-borne parasitic disease, is still a major public health concern, especially in the northwest region's endemic areas. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the demographic distribution and prevalence of CL cases in northwest Libya from 2019 to 2026. Registration records from primary healthcare facilities in Sabratha, Zawia, Surman, Al-Elajilat, Al-Jamil, Bader, Al-Tawela, and West Mountain were used in retrospective descriptive research. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test were used to gather and evaluate data on age, sex, and geographic distribution; statistical significance was defined at p < 0.05. Over the course of the study, 484 CL cases were documented. There were 305 (63.0%) instances involving adults and 179 (37.0%) involving children. In the majority of the research periods, males predominated, but during 2022–2024, female adults were more commonly impacted. Throughout the investigation, Sabratha had the most cases, followed by Al-Elajilat and Al-Jamil. The overall number of instances dropped from 238 in 2019–2021 to 106 in 2022–2024 before rising to 140 in 2025–2026. There were notable temporal differences in the distribution of cases in a number of areas, especially Sabratha. These results show that CL is still endemic in northwest Libya, with significant regional and temporal differences in the disease's incidence. Reducing disease transmission and supporting preventative efforts in endemic communities requires ongoing epidemiological surveillance, efficient vector control strategies, and raised public awareness.