Leishmaniasis continues to spread in southern IRAQ

Photo: IRIN

A map of Iraq highlighting Qadissiyah province, which has seen at least 275 cases of Leishmaniasis recently

BAGHDAD, 18 February 2008 (IRIN) - Leishmaniasis continues to spread in Iraq’s southern province of Qadissiyah, about 130km south of Baghdad, with at least 275 cases so far, a local official said.

The figure of 275 comprises 212 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis, also known as Baghdad boil disease, and 63 cases of visceral leishmaniasis, or `kalaazar’, Hindi for black fever, said Mohammed Sahib, a dermatologist at Qadissiyah General Hospital.

“Cutaneous leishmaniasis is not fatal, but can cause up to 200 facial lesions and crater-shaped sores, leaving patients seriously disfigured. Kalaazar can kill, and causes fever, weight loss, anaemia, and swelling of the spleen and liver,” Sahib said.

Children are particularly at risk because they typically have weaker immune systems than adults, he said. A single sand fly bite can be enough to transmit the disease.

Local health authorities were still suffering from a shortage of medicines to treat the disease, he said: “The medicines are not enough, as the disease is spreading and in addition to medical treatment there should be insecticide spraying campaigns to kill the sand flies.” IRIN