LARKANA, Sept 5: Skin disease leishmaniasis is increasing in Sindh and Balochistan, says Professor Yoshihisa Hashiguchi, head of four-member team of experts from Japan. He told Dawn that leishmaniasis was spreading gradually in the mountainous belt of the Qambar-Shahdadkot district and Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan.

The team comprised Prof Yoshihisa Hashiguchi, Prof Ken Katajura, Jun Matsumoto, Associate Prof Hiroshi Uezato from different universities of Japan.

It has visited Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot and Dadu districts in Sindh and Khuzdar, Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.

The team has collected evidence about sand fly, the cause of infection and spread of leishmaniasis, in the areas.

The team is studying types and varieties of causative agent, said Dr Farooq Soomro, focal person for the skin disease in Larkana district.

He suggested extensive measures to fight against disease that would be at its peak in November in the belt.

Dr Manan Bhutto said so far two types of sand fly had been isolated in Sindh and Balochistan.

He said the team of doctors from Pakistan and Japan would be successful in preparing new indigenous medicines to meet growing problems locally.