1. Epidemiology of Buruli Ulcer Infections, Victoria, Australia, 2011-2016.
- Author
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Loftus, Michael J., Ee Laine Tay, Globan, Maria, Lavender, Caroline J., Crouch, Simon R., Johnson, Paul D. R., Fyfe, Janet A. M., and Tay, Ee Laine
- Subjects
MYCOBACTERIUM ,ULCERS ,ENDEMIC diseases ,BURULI ulcer - Abstract
Buruli ulcer (BU) is a destructive soft-tissue infection caused by the environmental pathogen Mycobacterium ulcerans. In response to rising BU notifications in the state of Victoria, Australia, we reviewed all cases that occurred during 2011-2016 to precisely map the time and likely place of M. ulcerans acquisition. We found that 600 cases of BU had been notified; just over half were in residents and the remainder in visitors to defined BU-endemic areas. During the study period, notifications increased almost 3-fold, from 66 in 2013 to 182 in 2016. We identified 4 BU-endemic areas: Bellarine Peninsula, Mornington Peninsula, Frankston region, and the southeastern Bayside suburbs of Melbourne. We observed a decline in cases on the Bellarine Peninsula but a progressive increase elsewhere. Acquisitions peaked in late summer. The appearance of new BU-endemic areas and the decline in established areas probably correlate with changes in the level of local environmental contamination with M. ulcerans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
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