[Imported dracunculiasis: four cases confirmed in the south of Algeria].
The authors report for the first time, in the south of Algeria, four imported cases of dracunculiasis in Malian Touaregs. The patients came from Mali. They remained two months in Tamanrasset before settling in Illizi where they have been working illegally for more than nine months. In August 2007, because of infected lesions appearing on their legs a month earlier, the patients decided to go to the Illizi hospital for treatment The diagnosis of dracunculiasis was made by direct observation of worms emerging from lesions and by microscopic examination of larvae. The patients were then isolated and treated. The Ministry of Health immediately took measures to avoid local transmission of the disease, never seen in the region. The measures consisted in increasing awareness campaign among medical and paramedical staff about dracunculiasis and in pointing out the importance of detection of new cases among nomadic populations. The risk of emergence of a new dracunculiasis indigenous focus in the south of Algeria should be seriously considered, especially as the number of immigrants from endemic countries is increasing considerably
Harrat
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Z
Service d'éo-épidémiologie parasitaire, Institut Pasteur d'Algérie, 2 rue du Petit-Staoueli, Dely-Ibrahim, 16047, Alger. zharrat@pasteur.dz
Halimi
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R
D000462:Algeria; D000818:Animals; D004320:Dracunculiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D004321:Dracunculus Nematode; D008302:Mali; D014195:Travel