Alarming Surge: South Waziristan Reports 255 Leishmaniasis Cases in 2026

Residents Urge Govt to Improve Treatment Access, Deploy Mobile Teams, Launch Spray Campaigns

WANA: An alarming surge in leishmaniasis cases, a serious skin disease, has been reported in South Waziristan Lower, with around 255 infections recorded in 2026 across various areas of the district. The outbreak has sparked alarm among local families, who fear further spread if timely preventive measures are not taken.

The increase has been noted in the Azam Warsak and Shahin Panga areas of Barmal Tehsil, where residents and health authorities have expressed concern over the spread of the disease. Local residents said the infection was spreading quickly in rural localities and that many of those affected were children.

Residents said the growing number of cases had created anxiety among families, particularly parents worried that the disease could spread further if preventive steps were not taken without delay.

District health officer Dr Adnan said the health department was closely monitoring the situation and was providing necessary treatment facilities in the affected areas.

He said that injections used for the treatment of leishmaniasis, including Glucantime, were available at the district health office and the District Headquarters Hospital, Wana. The official said that efforts were being made to ensure that patients received timely treatment.

He stressed the need for awareness campaigns in the affected areas to inform people about the measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

Residents seek urgent intervention

Meanwhile, residents of Azam Warsak and Shaheen Panga in Birmal tehsil of Lower South Waziristan asked the health authorities to take steps to control the situation.

They said the skin disease was spreading in rural areas, with children being the most affected ones. Residents said that limited healthcare facilities and difficulties in accessing timely medical treatment worsened the situation in the remote areas. They said that many affected families were struggling to reach hospitals, resulting in delays in diagnosis and treatment.

They demanded that the government and health authorities take urgent steps to provide proper treatment facilities to the people.

Residents have called on the provincial government to take immediate and effective steps to control the increasing number of infections. They warned that if action was delayed, the disease could spread further and become more difficult to contain.

They also demanded the deployment of mobile medical teams in the affected areas, spray campaigns to eliminate sandflies, and broader improvements in medical facilities.

According to local residents, immediate intervention is necessary to protect public health and reduce further suffering in the area.

The reported rise in cases has drawn attention to healthcare access in remote parts of Lower South Waziristan, where residents say timely diagnosis and treatment remain difficult for many families.