[leish-l] Leishmaniasis in Afganistan

Fred R. Opperdoes opperdoes at trop.ucl.ac.be
Mon May 13 08:43:15 BRT 2002


>LEISHMANIASIS - AFGHANISTAN (KABUL): ALERT
>*****************************
>A ProMED-mail post
><http://www.promedmail.org>
>ProMED-mail, a program of the
>International Society for Infectious Diseases
><http://www.isid.org>
>
>Date: Tue 7 May 2002
>From: ProMED-mail <promed at promedmail.org>
>Source:  Xinhua News Agency via COMTEX 5 May 2002 [edited]
>
>
>WHO Warns of Rapid Spread of Skin Disease in Afghanistan
>- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>KABUL, 5 May 2002 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) warned
>that cutaneous leishmaniasis may rapidly spread in Afghanistan.
>Cutaneous leishmaniasis has affected 100 000 people in the capital
>Kabul so far this year, WHO spokesperson Loretta Hieber-Girardet told
>reporters.
>
>Leishmaniasis, which is known as saldana, or one-year sore, in local
>language, is caused by a parasite transmitted by the sand fly. It starts
>with a lesion on the area of the body that has been bitten, usually on
>the face. The lesion rapidly gives rise to a harsh-looking large ulcer.
>The most common type of the disease can be transmitted from human
>to human after the sand fly bites the lesion and then bites another
>human being. Hieber-Girardet said the WHO, together with local health
>officials, is fighting an uphill battle to control the disease, owing to the
>fact that not enough attention is being given to the disease. The disease
>has reached epidemic proportions because no public control measures
>have been put in place for the last decade, she said. "The medical
>supplies to treat this disease are very limited. In fact, there are only
>medical supplies for about 70 000 cases, and we are expecting at least a
>quarter of a million (cases) this year."
>
>She said at least half a million U.S. dollars are needed to control the
>spread of the disease in Kabul. Some 300 000 dollars are for medicines
>to treat the disease and 200 000 dollars for bed nets for people who
>have already been affected. The distribution of bed nets, which are
>used to stop contacts with the sand fly and the affected persons, are
>included in the campaign. The spokesperson said more cases are
>expected in Kabul as the movement of a large number of returnees to
>cities is continuing. According to statistics of the United Nations High
>Commissioner for Refugees, about 40 percent of the returnees end up
>in urban areas.
>
>Hieber-Girardet said the disease has also been found in Pakistan. In
>Kurram Agency in the northwest frontier province, over 5000 new
>cases of leishmaniasis were detected in the past year. Hieber- Girardet
>said the WHO believes the outbreak was linked to the massive presence
>of Afghans in the region because Pakistan used to have very tight
>control of the disease and leishmaniasis cases were rare in the country.
>
>In Sindh Province in south Pakistan, some 9000 people have been
>affected. But the outbreak there has been found to have been
>transmitted by animals [dogs, wild rodents - Mod.JW] rather than
>humans. In Afghanistan, leishmaniasis is a highly socially stigmatized
>issue. In Afghanistan, a girl whose face is scarred by the disease may
>not be considered a prime choice for marriage, thus limiting her
>chances for a normal future, the WHO spokesperson said. Afghan
>women with leishmaniasis would not be allowed to feed their children,
>and their husbands would not have contacts with them, she said.
>
>- --
>ProMED-mail
><promed at promedmail.org>
>
>[Leishmania is endemic in Afghanistan and has probably been
>underreported under the Taliban regime. The infection is linked to
>poor social conditions, especially lack of hygiene and poor removal of
>waste material. However, the international population in Kabul is also
>at risk. Leishmaniasis can be completely cured, provided treatment is
>available. However, many Afghans are not aware of how the disease is
>transmitted and usually delay treatment. ‚ Mod.EP]
>
>[see also:
>Leishmania, Pakistan ex Afghanistan      20020213.3556
>2001
>- --
>Leishmaniasis - India (Calcutta)        20001022.1830
>Leishmaniasis - India (Calcutta) (02) 20001026.1858
>Leishmaniasis - Nepal         20000729.1257
>Leishmaniasis - Nepal (02) 20000731.1266]
>...........................................mpp/ep/pg/jw
>
>------------------------------
-- 
Fred R. Opperdoes,
Research Unit for Tropical Diseases (TROP) and
Laboratory of Biochemistry (BCHM)
Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology (ICP)
and Catholic University of Louvain (UCL)
Avenue Hippocrate 74-75, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium

Tel: ++32-2-764.74.39 (secretary) Fax: ++32-2-762.68.53
Tel: ++32-2-764.74.55 (direct)
Voicemail/fax: ++3270705047
E-mail:Opperdoes at trop.ucl.ac.be
Internet: http://www.icp.ucl.ac.be/trop/
           http://www.icp.ucl.ac.be/~opperd/Fred.html



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