LARKANA, July 27: The skin disease, Leishmaniasis, has again erupted in Larkana and its adjoining areas as the World Health Organization left its three-phased programme to control the disease incomplete.

Dr Farooqur Rehma Soomro, while talking to Dawn here on Saturday, said the WHO, after the outbreak of this skin disorder, undertook a three-pronged programme — data collection, curative and preventive.

The WHO team visited the affected parts of Larkana along with experts from abroad and the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad.

Dr Soomro said two phases of the programme — data collection and curative — were successfully completed while the preventive phase was left incomplete, saying this might be the reason which led to the re-occurrence of Leishmaniasis not only in Larkana but also in other parts of the province.

He said ten to 15 cases of Leishmaniasis from Nasirabad, Shahdadkot, Kambar, Ratodero, Larkana City, Ghotki, Jhal Magsi, Jacobabad, Gandakha and Khuzdar were reported at the Chandka Medical College Teaching Hospital.

He said recent research had shown that Leishmaniasis was a zonotic disease — a disease of animals which can be transmitted to humans.

The EDO, health, Larkana, in letters addressed to the WHO, NIH and others concerned, pointed towards eliminating “sand fly”, believed to be causing Leishmaniasis.

The NIH’s programme to net in sand fly continues in Jani Bund and Ahmadi Tunia in Warah sub-division.

The medicines, supplied by the WHO, are now falling short as the disease has reoccurred in a vast area.