Number of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Tunisia ranges between 4,000 and 5,000 (expert)

Tunis: The number of Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases in Tunisia ranges between 4,000 and 5,000/year, Head of the Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology Research Laboratory at the Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT) Ikram Guizani Wednesday said at a Kick-off meeting of the African Leishmaniases Consortium (ALC). "Leishmaniasis is a communicable disease and there are three types of leishmaniasis, including cutaneous leishmaniasis which causes skin lesions to hands and the face due to the bite of sand flies generally originating in countries experiencing socio-economic crises and that do not attach the necessary importance to early diagnosis of this disease in its early stages," she said. She also underlined the need to inform the public about ways of prevention to avoid sand fly bites which cause infection with the Leishmania parasite. She also laid emphasis on the importance of scientific research in treating these diseases and providing the necessary healthcare services to ensure skin ulcers do n ot worsen and cause permanent scarring. The event marks the official start of the consortium's research and training activities and brings under spotlight efforts to combat leishmaniasis in Africa. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse