BACKGROUND Buruli ulcer (BU) is a neglected tropical disease affecting the skin, tissues and in some cases the bones, caused by the environmental pathogen Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans). Its mode of transmission is still elusive. Delayed treatment may cause irreversible disabilities with consequent social and economic impacts on the victim. Socio-cultural beliefs, practices and attitudes ...

detailed, and the conclusions to be drawn, refer O'dy to cietinism as prevailing among the Chitrali and Gilgiti races. It will be found necessary when applying these results elsewhere, to take into consideration such factors racial differences, habits of life, climatic conditions, etc., which are of importance in determining the prevalence of the disease. (1) For convenience of discussion I pro...

There are currently two major factors that have modified the epidemiology of Chagas disease in the last decades: climate change and migration flows. In this new scenario, there are new challenges to control and prevent Trypanosoma cruzi infection in endemic countries, such as the control of a wider distribution of triatomine vectors or the reinforcement of vertical transmission programs. In non...

Prevention of Hemoglobinopathies has developed around the world based upon the experience done in pioneering endemic countries and is now facing a new phase in non-endemic areas with a recent immigration history. We describe two situations, taking Latium (central Italy) and The Netherlands as two models for endemic and non-endemic countries both confronted with a large multi-ethnic immigrant so...

Hepatitis B infection is a major global health problem. Vertical transmission is the commonest route of spreading hepatitis B virus (HBV) in many endemic areas. In order to control such transmission in Hong Kong, neonatal immunization programme was implemented for more than two decades. A declining prevalence of HBV infection was expected. However, the prevalence remained unabated at around 10%...

Dear Editor, I read the recent publication on Zika virus infection with great interest. As noted by Zammarchi et al. 1 “it is advisable that the healthcare professionals working in non-endemic areas maintain full awareness on this issue in order to practice proper management of the imported cases of Zika virus infection.” There are many interesting issues for discussion. First, the importation ...