title: Outbreak of malaria among policemen in French Guiana.
abstract: An outbreak of malaria occurred among 62 policemen following an operation against illegal gold panning in French Guiana. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The objectives were to describe the outbreak and to identify factors related to the cases. The total number of initial cases was 37. Both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax were detected. Twenty-seven policemen presented with one to four recurrences. In bivariate analysis, factors related to malaria were a "medium to high" level of mosquito bites pollution at night, late washing in the evening and wearing a nonimpregnated Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). This investigation confirmed the low level of compliance with chemoprophylaxis among individuals on long-term assignment in French Guiana. Compliance with mosquito protection measures was satisfactory except for the use of impregnated BDU. Several recommendations were provided. Therefore, this outbreak reminds us that malaria remains a public health problem in French Guiana.
authors.affiliation: Département d'épidémiologie et de santé publique-IMTSSA Le Pharo, BP 46-3998 Marseille armées, France.
authors.forename: Rémy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Lénaïck
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ollivier
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Meynard
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guette
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Migliani
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Boutin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000208:ethnology; D005616:French Guiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires