Environmental assessment of 'Buruli ulcer' reservoir in Ivory Coast

Buruli ulcer, also known as tropical ulcer, is an emerging necrotic skin disease, caused by the Mycobacterium ulcerans. Since 1986, the disease has become epidemic with 6.000 cases per year in Ivory Coast. This environmental mycobacterium has been recovered from water and soil in swampy areas. However, the route of transmission remains unclear. Disease associations with slow-moving or stagnant water and environmental changes including mining, deforestation, and irrigation have been reported. Against this background, the mapping service in the context of GMES Service Element RESPOND was used to search for Buruli ulcer-prone environments, using remotely-sensed data in the transition zone between evergreen rain forest in the south of Ivory Coast and savannah in the north of Ivory Coast. The mapping services focused on vegetation and hydrology, as certain types of vegetation and different types of moist areas are most likely associated with the mycobacterium.