Leishmaniasis

Epidemic in Afghanistan

Leishmaniasis has been a problem in Afghanistan for quite some time. It was first reported in Afghanistan in 1964, but has grown into an epidemic since then. In 2002, there was a huge rise in the prevalence of the Leishmaniasis because of people displacement due to civil war and the rise of the Taliban. It has been hypothesized that infected people who have been displaced infect non-infected regions of Afghanistan, thus, spreading the disease. Sanitation and health care is poor in the cities and people live in tight quarters, which makes it the perfect location for infectious diseases to fester. Most infections happen in home, as opposed to in the wilderness.

In 2002, in Kabul alone, there were approximately 200,000 reported cases of this parasitic disease. There are three other towns where Leishmaniasis is common: Herat (farthest west), Mazar-e-Sharif (most northern), and Kandahar (most southern); in those three towns, there were about 70,000 cases reported in 2002. 50%-75% of cases involve skin lesions, which leave permanent scars after healing. The WHO has been appealing for money in order to control this problem using medication, insecticide-impregnated bed nets, and better education on health.