15 Aug 2024 | 01:40 PM UTC
Peru: Elevated Leishmaniasis activity reported in La Libertad in August
Elevated Leishmaniasis activity reported in La Libertad, Peru, in August. Avoid sandfly bites.
Health authorities have reported Leishmaniasis activity in the La Libertad Department, with 271 cases reported since Jan. 1. This is compared to 158 cases reported in 2023. Santiago de Chuco is the most affected province (111 cases), followed by Otuzco (62 cases) and Gran Chimu (54 cases). Children between the ages of 0 and 11 years old are the most affected. Health officials are conducting fumigation to control sandfly populations, promoting early diagnosis and treatment, and advising the public to take preventive measures and improve home conditions to reduce disease spread. This report represents the most complete data available as of Aug. 15.
The sand flies that transmit Leishmania parasites are small and noiseless, and their bites often go unnoticed. This makes general insect precautions especially important. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants sprayed with permethrin as weather permits, use insect repellent on exposed skin (30-35 percent DEET), and use permethrin-impregnated bed nets with fine mesh while sleeping. Although sand flies are primarily active at night, infection may occur during the daytime if resting sand flies are disturbed.
Leishmaniasis is endemic in the La Libertad Department of Peru. Sandflies are most active during the rainy season, which spans from December to April. The case counts for the previous years were 297 in 2019, 260 in 2020, 190 in 2021, 195 in 2022, and 158 in 2023.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis - the most common of three forms of leishmaniasis- causes ulcerative skin lesions within a few weeks or months of exposure. These sores can change in appearance over time, but they are generally painless. Open sores increase the likelihood of bacterial infection. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis causes sores and tissue loss in the nose, mouth, and pharynx. Visceral leishmaniasis is the second most common; typical symptoms include high fever, substantial weight loss, swelling of the spleen and liver, and anemia. If left untreated, this form of leishmaniasis is nearly 100 percent fatal within two years.
