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๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ช Venezuela /Health & Science

Venezuela Reports Over 3,000 Annual Cases of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Venezuela registers approximately 3,000 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis annually, according to health authorities.
  • The incidence of the disease fluctuates with changes in climate.
  • Researchers are developing topical nanoformulations as an alternative to traditional injectable treatments.

Venezuelan health authorities have confirmed that the country records around 3,000 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis each year. The prevalence of this disease is known to vary, often correlating with shifts in climatic conditions.

Josรฉ Vicente Scorza, head of research at the Experimental Institute Josรฉ Witremundo Torrealba, stated that up to 3,000 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis are documented annually during periods of peak transmission. The institute is actively working on developing alternative treatments for the disease, aiming to transition from current parenteral therapies, which involve daily or weekly injections.

We are working on nanoformulations that are yielding excellent results. We are currently producing them and evaluating them nationally.

โ€” Josรฉ Vicente ScorzaDescribing the development of new topical treatments for leishmaniasis.

"We are working on nanoformulations that are yielding excellent results. We are currently producing them and evaluating them nationally," Scorza explained. The development of these new medications is contingent upon the consistent availability of necessary reagents and the maintenance of production equipment.

Scorza added that the Ministry of Science and Technology has provided new equipment and reagents, expressing hope that this support will continue. "As long as the collaboration flows, we will have the capacity to produce the drug," he stated, highlighting the importance of ongoing inter-agency cooperation for sustained treatment availability.

As long as the collaboration flows, we will have the capacity to produce the drug.

โ€” Josรฉ Vicente ScorzaEmphasizing the need for continued support for drug production.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.