Geographic and epidemiologic analysis of the cutaneous Leishmaniasis outbreak in northern Israel, 2000-2003.

Background: The incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Israel began to rise in 2000, peaking at 41.0 per 100,000 in the Kinneret subdistrict during the first half of 2003.

Objectives: To examine the morbidity rates of CL in northern Israel during the period 1999-2003, which would indicate whether new endemic areas were emerging in this district, and to identify suspicious hosts.