Outbreak of leptospirosis in New Caledonia: diagnosis issues and burden of disease.
A leptospirosis epidemic affected New Caledonia during the first semester of 2008. A total of 135 cases were diagnosed with a relatively low fatality rate of 3.7%. Heavy rainfalls, related to La Niña, favoured this epidemic. The PCR, routinely used, confirmed 54% of the cases, and the microagglutination test 56%. Epidemiological and economical data on this epidemic are presented and discussed.
Goarant
C
C
Institut Pasteur de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia. cgoarant@pasteur.nc
Laumond-Barny
S
S
Perez
J
J
Vernel-Pauillac
F
F
Chanteau
S
S
Guigon
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009510:New Caledonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011891:Rain; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult