Emerging Infectious Diseases (Apr 2005)

Buruli Ulcer Recurrence, Benin

  • Martine Debacker,
  • Julia Aguiar,
  • Christian Steunou,
  • Claude Zinsou,
  • Wayne M. Meyers,
  • Françoise Portaels

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1104.041000
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 4
pp. 584 – 589

Abstract

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Buruli ulcer is a recognized public health problem in West Africa. In Benin, from 1989 to 2001, the Centre Sanitaire et Nutritionnel Gbemoten (CSNG) treated >2,500 Buruli ulcer patients. From March 2000 to February 2001, field trips were conducted in the Zou and Atlantique regions. The choice of the 2 regions was based on the distance from CSNG and on villages with the highest number of patients treated at CSNG. A total of 66 (44.0%) of 150 former patients treated at CSNG were located in the visited villages. The recurrence rate of CSNG-treated patients after a follow-up period of up to 7 years was low (6.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0–15.6). We attribute this low rate to the high quality of Buruli ulcer treatment at an accessible regional center (CSNG). The World Health Organization definition of a Buruli ulcer recurrent case should be revised to include a follow-up period >1 year.

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