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«The number of sufferers associated with the disease continues to climb: Each year, 1 000 new cases emerge in Benin and 70-90% of the victims are aged 15 years and younger. Many of the cases lead to disabilities such as amputations and the loss of vital organs.»
Dr. Christian Roch Johnson, Benin
Buruli ulcer is most prevalent in West Africa. Besides officially reported cases in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo and Uganda, it must be assumed that the dark number of sufferers is much larger.
Buruli ulcer also occurs beyond Africa, although infrequently. For example, it has been diagnosed in Brazil, French Guyana, Mexico, Peru, Surinam, Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka.
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