Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a disfiguring parasitic disease transmitted by the sandfly, is not new to Syria; however, the war in Syria has greatly increased the risk for CL and reports have indicated sharp increases in the number of CL cases in Syria and in surrounding areas of the Middle East.
Founding Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine, and coauthor of an editorial in the journal, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D, joined me for an interview on the explosion of this parasitic disease in the region to be aired on the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show Sunday evening at 8 pm on AM 1380 The Biz in Tampa.
Dr Hotez discussed the transmission of Leishmaniasis, the various types of the infection, the dire situation in Syria and the concern for neighboring countries in the Middle East, the risk with refugees going to Europe and the US and what can be done about this situation.
The Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, the first and only radio program dedicated to infectious disease and health news and information, airs every Sunday at 8 pm ET in the Tampa Bay area on AM 1380 The Biz and online at http://1380thebiz.com/
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