Sandflies cause disfiguring skin ulcers

Tiny sandflies, often no bigger than a fruit fly, transmit Leishmania, a microscopic parasite, through their bite. This parasite invades immune cells, leading to leishmaniasis, a disease that manifests as painful, open skin ulcers. These disfiguring sores can take months to heal and leave permanent scars, primarily affecting impoverished communities in tropical regions.