Rapid Metagenomic Diagnostics for Suspected Outbreak of Severe Pneumonia

1072 Emerging Infectious Diseases • www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 20, No. 6, June 2014 M. ulcerans is known to be associated with wetlands, and the Kouilou River environment is certainly suitable for its spread (10). Identification of this zone as a high-risk area for Buruli ulcer disease will help the Ministry of Health improve early detection, biological confirmation, and treatment programs. In the other regions, active and continuous surveillance is necessary to establish a detailed map of the villages and areas where Buruli ulcer disease is endemic; such information would enable the implementation of targeted control activities. However, active surveillance in Congo has substantially declined since 2011. Our findings support the reactivation of such surveillance campaigns to ensure the early identification and confirmation of Buruli ulcer cases and to improve patient management.