Investigation of a sudden malaria outbreak in the isolated Amazonian village of Saul, French Guiana, January-April 2009.

Franck Berger (1) , Claude Flamand (2) , Lise Musset (1, 3, 4) , Félix Djossou (5) , Jacques Rosine (6) , Marie-Anne Sanquer (7) , Isabelle Dusfour (1) , Eric Legrand (1, 3, 4) , Vanessa Ardillon (2) , Patrick Rabarison (8) , Claire Grenier (9) , Romain Girod (1)

1 Institut Pasteur de la Guyane
2 Cellule Interrégionale d'Epidémiologie Antilles-Guyane
3 Laboratoire de Parasitologie [Cayenne, Guyane française]
4 CNR - laboratoire associé - Centre National de Référence du Paludisme [Cayenne, Guyane française]
5 Laboratoire de Parasitologie Mycologie
6 Cellule Interrégionale d'Epidémiologie Antilles-Guyane
7 ARS Guyane - Agence Régionale de Santé Guyane
8 Direction de la Démoustication et des Actions Sanitaires
9 Département des Centres de Santé

Malaria is endemic in French Guiana. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are the predominant species responsible and Anopheles darlingi is described as the major vector. In mid-August 2008, an increase in malaria incidence was observed in Saül. A retrospective cohort survey was performed. In vitro susceptibility profiles to antimalarials were determined on P. falciparum isolates. Collections of mosquitoes were organized. The malaria attack rate reached 70.6/100. The risk of malaria increased for people between 40 and 49 years of age, living in a house not subjected to a recent indoor residual insecticide spraying or staying overnight in the surrounding forest. All isolates were susceptible. Anopheles darlingi females and larvae were collected in the village suggesting a local transmission. Our results strongly support a role of illegal mining activities in the emergence of new foci of malaria. Therefore, public health authorities should define policies to fight malaria at a transborder level.

Domaines: Parasitologie

Franck Berger, Claude Flamand, Lise Musset, Félix Djossou, Jacques Rosine, et al.. Investigation of a sudden malaria outbreak in the isolated Amazonian village of Saul, French Guiana, January-April 2009.. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2012, 86 (4), pp.591-7. ⟨10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0582⟩. ⟨pasteur-00705561⟩