Seasonal Patterns of Buruli Ulcer Incidence, Central Africa, 2002-2012

Emerg Infect Dis. 2015 Aug;21(8):1414-7. doi: 10.3201/eid2108.141336.

Abstract

To determine when risk for Buruli ulcer is highest, we examined seasonal patterns in a highly disease-endemic area of Cameroon during 2002-2012. Cases peaked in March, suggesting that risk is highest during the high rainy season. During and after this season, populations should increase protective behaviors, and case detection efforts should be intensified.

Keywords: Buruli ulcer; Cameroon; Central Africa; Mycobacterium ulcerans; bacteria; seasonal variations; tuberculosis and other mycobacteria; wavelet analysis.

MeSH terms

  • Buruli Ulcer / epidemiology*
  • Buruli Ulcer / pathology
  • Cameroon / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Endemic Diseases
  • Humans
  • Seasons*