Cases of sandfly disease are ‘on the rise’ in KSA

Health workers in the Kingdom have reported a rise in cases of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ( CL) disease, caused by the bite of sandflies, and warned the public to take precautions.

According to a report in a local publication, several patients, mostly in the Eastern Province, have been detected with Leishmaniasis. The symptoms include welts or sores on the skin, which can become infected. It can affect the spleen and liver and result in death.

Several physicians have said there is no clear method to treat CL. However, Ministry of Health officials recommend people minimizing the amount of exposed skin, improve their personal hygiene and keep their surroundings clean. They can also use nets treated with insecticide while sleeping.

Saleh Hasim, a clinical physician, said: “Although the disease is not really life- threatening because the immune system will control the parasite and remove it, but it can cause more grave problems affecting the spleen and the liver, which is very dangerous and likely to be incurable.”

He said that this disease is more common in adult males because they tend to be more exposed to the sandfly. The faculty of applied medical sciences at King Abdulaziz University reported that more than 1,400 cases were reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, with a 10 percent rise expected this year.

Leishmaniasis occurs in 88 tropical and subtropical countries. About 350 million people live in these areas, which include the rainforests in Central and South America, and deserts in western Asia and the Middle East. It affects as many as 12 million people worldwide, with 1.5 to 2 million new cases each year. As of 2010, it caused about 52,000 deaths, down from 87,000 in 1990, according to Wikipedia.

Several physicians have said there is no clear method to treat CL.