Spatial distribution of incidence of leishmaniasis of different communes of Sefrou Province (2007-2010), Central North of Morocco

Leishmaniasis represents a public health problem and an endemic disease in Morocco. Increasing cases of leishmaniasis disease have been reported during recent years in Sefrou Province, Central Morocco. This study presents the role of the mapping tool in the epidemiological study in order to draw up a map of the health risks for leishmaniasis disease and to determine the area's most affected by this pathology in the Province of Sefrou. This study treated and examined the leishmaniasis cases recorded between 2007 and 2010. The database contains the geographic parameters, environmental factors and the level of risk of this disease. The results are analyzed by Qgis 2.18 software which is open source software. Over a four-year period, the average incidence of leishmaniasis in the Province of Sefrou has varied between 0.165% and 0.0018%. The commune of Tazouta represented a high average incidence with 0.165% in relation to all the communes of Sefrou. Analysis of the spatial distribution of the disease and the creation of the risk map for this disease is an important tool for identifying high-risk areas. These results well be useful in enlightening health authorities to develop screening, treatment and control strategies to reduce the incidence rate of the disease.