Morocco reports over 400 leishmaniasis cases in Zagora
Civil society groups call for urgent medical intervention as children are among the infected.
Over 400 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis have been reported in Morocco’s Zagora province, with infections also noted in El Jorf, Errachidia province. The outbreak has particularly affected Fezouata and Tamekroute in Zagora, and El Jorf in Errachidia. Leishmaniasis is transmitted by infected sand flies, causing skin sores and ulcers that can lead to permanent scarring.
The Friends of the Environment association warned that children are among those infected and that a shortage of doctors could worsen the situation. Jamal Akchbab, head of the association, stated that the region experienced a similar outbreak in the mid-2000s which was contained by coordinated efforts. He linked the current spread to pools and lakes formed after heavy summer rainfall, and noted that some residents sleep on rooftops.
Civil society groups are calling for an emergency response plan including medical teams to diagnose and treat patients, and field campaigns to control rodent and sand fly populations. Younes Kadiri, of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, held local authorities responsible for allowing the disease to spread and called on the Ministry of Health to intervene urgently.
Why it mattersOver 400 people in Morocco's Zagora and Errachidia provinces are affected by leishmaniasis, a disease that causes skin sores and can leave permanent scars.