Buruli Ulcer Strategy to focus on Early Detection and Early Treatment

Accra, April 1, GNA - Based on the best available evidence, the World Health Organization's (WHO) new strategy for Buruli Ulcer (BU) control will focus on early case detection and early initiation of antibiotic treatment for patients.

This was announced on Monday by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, in an address to the High-Level Leadership Meeting on BU which took place in Cotonou, Benin Republic. Explaining the rationale behind the focus of WHO's BU control strategy on early detection and early commencement of treatment, Dr Sambo stated that "early treatment with antibiotics is vital to avoid the progression of the disease to its destructive and disabling stages." He also informed the participants: "WHO's strategy for BU control calls for universal access by all populations to appropriate health care . and given that the incidence of the disease is highest among deprived populations, treatment should be free of charge or at a cost affordable by the poor."

The Regional Director listed some of the numerous advantages of the new strategy as including: the alleviation of suffering and disabling complications, reduction in the cost for specialized surgery; better integration of Buruli Ulcer control activities into the primary health care system, and the lowering of the direct and indirect cost of treatment. Dr Sambo described the development of drug treatment of BU as a notable achievement which had revolutionized the management and treatment of the disease and reduced by half the need for expensive surgical treatment.

"However, many challenges still lie ahead", he said, adding, that they included the need to develop a simple diagnostic test to help health workers in rural clinics to diagnose the disease; better surveillance and case notification to allow for the commencement of early treatment; shortage of qualified health workers, and inadequate funds for research into the epidemiology of BU, its mode of transmission, and improved diagnosis and treatment.

He paid tribute to the Heads of State attending the meeting, saying that their presence in Cotonou was evidence of the importance they attached to BU control. "Let us work together to get to the root of this disfiguring disease of which mankind is still a victim in the 21st century," he said. Dr Sambo pledged that WHO would continue to work with countries and development partners to ensure the attainment by Member States of internationally agreed health objectives. A neglected but treatable tropical disease, Buruli ulcer, is caused by infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans, a relative of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis and leprosy. The disease is characterized by skin lesions which persist without healing.

Named after an area of Uganda where it was once highly prevalent, it is present in over 30 countries worldwide.

In the African Region, cases of BU have been confirmed in 12 countries : Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Togo, Gabon, the Central African Republic and Uganda.

Suspected cases have been reported in 10 countries: Angola, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. 1 April 09