Publication Type: | Journal Article |
Year of Publication: | 2009 |
Authors: | P. Suykerbuyk, Wambacq, J., Phanzu, D. M., Haruna, H., Nakazawa, Y., Ooms, K., Kamango, K., Stragier, P., Singa, J. N., Ekwanzala, F., De Herdt, E., De Maeyer, P., Kestens, L., Portaels, F. |
Journal: | Am J Trop Med Hyg |
Volume: | 81 |
Issue: | 5 |
Pagination: | 888-94 |
Date Published: | 2009 Nov |
ISSN: | 1476-1645 |
Keywords: | Adolescent, Adult, Age Distribution, Aged, Buruli Ulcer, Child, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mycobacterium ulcerans, Sex Characteristics, Young Adult |
Abstract: | Fifty years after the last report of Mycobacterium ulcerans infections (Buruli ulcer [BU]) in Kasongo Territory, Maniema Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we conducted a small-scale cross-sectional survey to assess if this historical BU focus was still active and if so to explore the disease epidemiology. Seventy-five active and inactive BU cases were identified on clinical grounds of which two of 28 BU active cases were laboratory confirmed. We used a modified BU02 form to reconstruct the local disease dynamics and we believe that the horrific conflict in eastern DRC and exceptional flooding were the most likely causes of the re-emergence of the disease. There is a need in the DRC to decentralize and integrate surveillance and control activities at local level to increase the effectiveness of patient management. |
DOI: | 10.4269/ajtmh.2009.09-0049 |
Alternate Journal: | Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. |