Sand fly attack: Over 100 victims suffer from lesions

Taking advantage of people’s ignorance, some medical stores are fleecing patients by claiming to have ordered vaccines

MIRPUR: Over 100 people are suffering from a skin disease known as Leishmaniasis after being attacked by sand flies in the outskirts of Mirpur city. According to the victims, local authorities have paid no attention to overcome the outbreak in affected areas, which include Kakra town, Khaliqabad and Ban Khurman. Taking advantage of people’s ignorance, some medical stores are fleecing patients by claiming that they have ordered the vaccines from Quetta. Even though there are no vaccines for the disease, one of the patients said certain medical stores are selling them at exorbitant prices. When contacted, Mirpur District Health Officer Bashir Chaudhry, said the agriculture department is primarily responsible for taking preventive measures including sprays. He said the health department had taken appropriate measures to overcome the outbreak. However, he refused to elaborate any further. He suggested launching awareness programmes so farmers regularly spray insecticide to prevent the disease.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2012.