Leishmaniasis is normally spread via the bite of a female
sandfly in areas where Leishmaniasis is endemic.
Leishmaniasis is also spread by blood transfusion, sharing
needles, sexually and congenitally.
The Leishmaniasis parasite has been proven to survive in stored
blood for at least 30 days which is why the US Military and the CDC
have a ban on donating blood for one year for persons returning
from endemic countries, to include Iraq and Afghanistan.