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IRAQ: Leishmaniasis appears in southern province

BAGHADAD, 21 May 2009 (IRIN) - Nearly 200 cases of leishmaniasis have been registered in the southern province of Missan, about 350km south of Baghdad, a local health official said on 19 May.

“So far we have registered 190 cases of leishmaniasis in different parts of the province, both in urban and rural areas, and among different age groups,” Zamil Shia, the provincial health chief, told IRIN.

Shia said the epidemic was manageable at present and teams were monitoring affected areas.

Leishmaniasis is also known as Baghdad boil, oriental sore, Aleppo button, Jericho boil and Delhi boil. In its most unpleasant form - visceral leishmaniasis - organ failure and death can result.

It is transmitted by the bite of the female sandfly. Dogs and other animals can act as a source of infection to humans. Rodents, especially certain species of rodent, are considered the main carriers.

Shia said people in affected areas tended to sleep in the open, and in places with poor sanitation.

According to the World Health Organization, the 20 or so infective species or subspecies of the leishmaniasis parasite cause a range of symptoms like fever, malaise, weight loss and anaemia, as well as - in its visceral form - swelling of the spleen, liver and lymph nodes.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis - the most common form - causes 1-200 simple skin lesions which self-heal within a few months but which leave unsightly scars.

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis begins with skin ulcers, causing massive tissue destruction, especially of the nose and mouth.

The disease’s incubation period is up to six months, so doctors say thousands could have the disease without knowing it.

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Theme(s): (IRIN) Early Warning, (IRIN) Health & Nutrition

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Copyright © IRIN 2009
This material comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States.
IRIN is a project of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.