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At least 66 cutaneous leishmaniasis cases have been reported in Sabana de Uchire, Bruzual municipality of Anzoátegui in northeastern Venezuela, according to an El Pitazo report.

Sandfly/CDC

It is estimated that people started getting sick in January 2022.

It is noted that there are three reasons for the increase in cases: sandflies abound in the area, people have not been able to go to the doctor and 20 years without fumigation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that is found in parts of the tropics, subtropics, and southern Europe. Leishmaniasis is caused by infection with Leishmania parasites, which are spread by the bite of infected sand flies. There are several different forms of leishmaniasis in people. The most common forms are cutaneous leishmaniasis, which causes skin sores, and visceral leishmaniasis, which affects several internal organs (usually spleen, liver, and bone marrow).

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People with cutaneous leishmaniasis who develop clinical evidence of infection have one or more sores on their skin. The sores can change in size and appearance over time. The sores may start out as papules (bumps) or nodules (lumps) and may end up as ulcers (like a volcano, with a raised edge and central crater); skin ulcers may be covered by scab or crust. The sores usually are painless but can be painful.

There is not a  vaccine available to prevent leishmaniasis. The best way is to avoid sandfly bites.

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