KP asks WHO to help stop cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreak

PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Health Department has sought help from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to contain an outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), an official said.

“During the last three months, about 889 cases of CL have been recorded from 14 districts,” Dr. Muhammad Iqbal of the Health Department told Central Asia Online April 25. “We have requested the WHO to intervene.”

Nowshera District had the most cases, 214, he said.

KP is requesting injectable medicines and help with insecticide spraying, he said, adding that patients cannot afford the Rs. 3,500 (US $39) cost of CL treatment.

CL is a skin infection, often transmitted by sand flies.