Leprosy in French Polynesia. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Musso, D.; Rovery, C.; Loukil, A.; Vialette, V.; Nguyen, N.L.
• Is Part Of: New microbes and new infections. Volume 29(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: French Polynesia -- leprosy -- Pacific; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2018.10.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-2975

Abstract

Abstract: Leprosy is a neglected endemic infectious disease in the Pacific region. In French Polynesia (FP), leprosy is no longer a public health problem at the national level, defined by the World Health Organization as a prevalence rate below 1 case per 10, 000 population. However, even if its incidence has dramatically declined in FP in the last decades, leprosy is still endemic at a low level. Here we present a case of leprosy in a 34-year-old man from FP diagnosed in 2018. Clinical and microbiologic examinations, including fluorescence in-situ hybridization, led to the diagnosis of a multibacillary leprosy, and multidrug therapy was initiated. There is a need to maintain leprosy surveillance and trained medical staff for the detection and treatment of new cases.