01571nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001653001200042653001800054653001800072653001800090653002000108653001100128100001200139700001300151245005500164856007800219490000700297520107300304       2016                            d10aVaccine10asocioeconomic10asocial burden10aLeishmaniasis10aeconomic burden10aBurden1 aOkwor I1 aUzonna J00aSocial and Economic Burden of Human Leishmaniasis.  uhttp://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.15-0408#html_fulltext0 v153 a<p>Leishmaniasis continues to pose a major public health problem worldwide. With new epidemics occurring in endemic areas and the spread of the disease to previously free areas because of migration, tourism, and military activities, there is a great need for the development of an effective vaccine. Leishmaniasis is a disease of the poor, occurring mostly in remote rural villages with poor housing and little or no access to modern health-care facilities. In endemic areas, diagnosis of any form of leishmaniasis puts a huge financial strain on an already meagre financial resource at both the individual and community levels. Most often families need to sell their assets (land and livestock) or take loans from informal financial outfits with heavy interest rates to pay for the diagnosis and treatment of leishmaniasis. Here, we discuss the disease with special emphasis on its socioeconomic impact on the affected community. In addition, we highlight the reasons why continued research aimed at developing an effective anti-Leishmania vaccine is necessary.</p>