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Leprosy in French Guiana 2007-2014: a re-emerging public health problem.

Abstract

Dear Editor, In 1991, the World Health Organization (WHO) set the aim of eliminating leprosy as a public health problem by decreasing world prevalence below 1 case per 10,000 inhabitants. According to a 2006 epidemiologic study, this objective had been reached in French Guiana by then. This territory is a French overseas department in South America. It enjoys a universal health care system and a higher development than neighboring countries (Brazil and Suriname. French Guiana has a 296,000-inhabitants population of mixed ancestries, including African-American, Europeans and Amerindians. Many immigrants from Brazil have recently settled in French Guiana. They often work as illegal gold miners and suffer from very harsh working conditions in the isolated forest areas of the hinterland. The main objective of this study was to estimate the incidence and prevalence rate of leprosy in French Guiana. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

More information

Type
Journal Article
Author
Graille J
Blaizot R
Darrigade A S
Sainte-Marie D
Nacher M
Schaub R
Couppié P