Spatial analysis and epidemiological profile of visceral leishmaniasis, northeastern Brazil: A cross-sectional study

•Most visceral leishmaniasis cases reported in Brazil are from the northeast region, where the disease is strongly linked to poverty.•Children under 10 years old and males were more affected during 2007-2017, and most cases were from urban areas.•Living in the Cerrado, Amazon or, to a lesser extent, Caatinga biomes was a risk factor for visceral leishmaniasis.•The epidemiological profile of visceral leishmaniasis cases remained unchanged during 2007-2017.•Data suggest that social improvements achieved in this region were not enough to mitigate the risk of this disease.