Dozens of Israeli soldiers suspected of being infected with leishmania

Dozens of Israeli soldiers are suspected of being infected with parasitic leishmania around the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media, citing medical sources.

The leishmania parasite is transmitted to humans through the bite of a tiny sandfly.

The bites leave painful inflammatory skin lesions that do not heal and last for many weeks. If untreated, the lesions often leave permanent scars on the skin, reports state.