Malaria in French Guiana Linked to Illegal Gold Mining.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Pommier de Santi V
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4734546 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Malaria in French Guiana Linked to Illegal Gold Mining.
Pommier de Santi Vincent V Dia Aissata A Adde Antoine A Hyvert Georges G Galant Julien J Mazevet Michel M Nguyen Christophe C Vezenegho Samuel B SB Dusfour Isabelle I Girod Romain R Briolant Sébastien S
Emerging infectious diseases 20160201 2
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Project description:BackgroundIn French Guiana, a French overseas territory in South America, 6 to 10 thousands undocumented persons work illegally in gold mining sites in the Amazonian forest. Precarious life conditions lead to poor health but few data exist on the health status of illegal gold miners in French Guiana. The objective of this article was to describe the sociodemographic and health status of this vulnerable population.MethodA prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2015 on gold mine supply sites at the border between French Guiana and Suriname. Health status was assessed through medical examination, past medical history, haemoglobin concentration, and HIV and malaria testing. A questionnaire was used to collect data about the migration itinerary and life conditions on mining sites.ResultsAmong the 421 adults included in the study, 93.8% (395/421) were Brazilian, mainly from Maranhão (55.7%, 220/395), the poorest Brazilian state. The sex ratio was 2.4. Overall, 48% of persons never went to school or beyond the primary level. The median time spent in gold mining was quite long (10 years), with a high turn-over. One third of the surveyed population (37.1%, 156/421) had high blood pressure, and only two had a medical follow-up. Most persons had experienced malaria (89.3%, 376/421). They declared frequent arboviroses and digestive disorders. Active leishmaniasis was observed in 8.3% of gold miners. Among women, 28.5% were anemic. Concerning HIV, 36.6% (154/421) of persons, mainly men, never got tested before and 6 were tested positive, which represented an HIV prevalence of 1.43% (95%CI =0.29-2.5).ConclusionThese findings support the hypothesis that mining in remote areas is linked to several specific illnesses. Theoretically, gold miners would be presumed to start their economical migration to French Guiana as a healthy group. However, their strenuous working and living conditions there lead to poor health caused by infectious and non infectious diseases. This description of their health status is precious for health policy planners in French Guiana given the importance of controlling communicable disease, and the severity and range of specific illnesses acquired by this neglected population.Trial registrationClinical trial registration PRS N° NCT02903706 . Retrospectively registered 09/13/2016.
| S-EPMC5513330 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundIn April 2017, Suriname's Ministry of Health alerted French Guiana's Regional Health Agency (RHA) about an increase of imported malaria cases among people coming from an illegal gold mining site called Sophie, in French Guiana, a French overseas territory located in the Amazonian forest.MethodsDue to safety issues and the remoteness of Sophie, the RHA requested the collaboration of the French Armed Forces for the epidemiological investigation. A medical unit, and six soldiers to ensure the security of the mission, were transported by helicopter.ResultsDuring the investigation, two malaria episodes were diagnosed among 46 persons. Twenty-six of them were from Sophie, where PCR-Plasmodium prevalence was estimated at 60% (15/26). This result was concordant with previous studies revealing high malaria endemicity in the gold miner population. The increase of imported cases in Suriname may have resulted from decreased access to under-the-counter anti-malarials and increased migration of gold miners to Suriname following a decline of the profitability of gold mining in a context of increased repression against illegal mining by the French army.ConclusionThis investigation of a suspicious malaria epidemic confirms the importance of malaria among illegal gold miners. Their mobility along the Guiana Shield and their health-seeking behaviour are likely to spread malaria in populations for which significant efforts are undertaken to fight against this disease. Fighting malaria in this population remains more relevant than ever. A pilot study (Malakit project) is currently in progress to evaluate the efficacy of kits for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.
| S-EPMC6431065 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundMost emerging pathogens are zoonoses and have a wildlife origin. Anthropization and disruption of ecosystems favor the crossing of inter-species barriers. We hypothesize that the marginalized population of undocumented goldminers in the Amazon is at risk of acquiring zoonoses.MethodA multicentric cross-sectional study included consenting gold-mining adult workers in 2019. A clinical examination recorded dermatological signs of leishmaniosis and past history of yellow fever vaccination. Biological tests were performed for yellow fever, Q fever and leptospirosis serologies. Additional blood samples from a previous study in 2015 were also tested for leptospirosis.ResultsIn 2019, 380 individuals were included in the study, along with 407 samples from the 2015 biological collection. The seroprevalence of leptospirosis was 31.0% [95%CI = 26.4-35.5] in 2015 and 28.1% [23.5-32.7] in 2019. The seroprevalence of Q fever was 2.9% [1.2-4.6]. The majority of participants reported being vaccinated against yellow fever (93.6%) and 97.9% had seroneutralizing antibodies. The prevalence of suspected active mucocutaneous leishmaniasis was 2.4% [0.8-3.9].DiscussionThese unique data shed new light on the transmission cycles of zoonoses still poorly understood in the region. They support the existence of a wild cycle of leptospirosis but not of Q fever. Leishmaniasis prevalence was high because of life conditions and tree felling. High yellow fever vaccine coverage was reassuring in this endemic area. In the era of global health, special attention must be paid to these vulnerable populations in direct contact with the tropical ecosystem and away from the health care system.
| S-EPMC9410546 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesCommon representations of the world of gold mining-especially illegal-are usually negative: the activity conjures up images of drug trafficking, human exploitation, the sex trade, environmental destruction, and infectious diseases, in particular sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The aim of the present article is to describe the levels of risk behaviors such as transactional sex, multiple sexual partners, and the frequency of condom use, addictive substance consumption, and the prevalence of STIs among the population of illegal gold miners in French Guiana (FG), a French overseas entity in Amazonia, in order to guide potential interventions.MethodsAn observational multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out from October to December 2019 along the two borders of FG with Suriname and Brazil at rest sites used by the miners.ResultsAmong the 499 participants, transactional sex was very prevalent, declared by 33.5% of men and 8.4% of women. Condoms were more frequently used for transactional sex than with a non-commercial partner (93.4% versus 42.1%). More women were tested for HIV than men (91.1% versus 55.2%). Excessive alcohol consumption (57.3%%) and tobacco use (41.2%) were very frequent, but cocaine or crack consumption was low (1.2%), which refuted our initial assumption. Consumers of alcohol had more sexual partners and reported condom use more frequently. Prevalence of HIV, HCV, HBV, and syphilis was respectively 0.5% (95% CI: 0.1-2.1), 2.1% (95% CI: 0.7-3.6), 1.6% (95% CI: 0.3-2.8), and 12.4% (95% CI: 9.0-15.7), which was higher than in the local population, especially for syphilis.ConclusionThis study documents for the first time the risk behaviors of gold miners in FG. Although the level of condom use was high, the prevalence of STIs combined with the high rate of transactional sex should encourage an increase in prevention and screening, in particular through rapid tests, given the mobility of the population concerned.
| S-EPMC9522014 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in tropical rainforests are resilient to the impact of slash and burn plantations.
| PRJEB22991 | ENA
Project description:We obtained health surveillance epidemiologic data on malaria among French military personnel deployed to French Guiana during 1998-2008. Incidence of Plasmodium vivax malaria increased and that of P. falciparum remained stable. This new epidemiologic situation has led to modification of malaria treatment for deployed military personnel.
| S-EPMC3381416 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Objective The present study aimed to understand what factors can lead to late HIV diagnosis of illegal gold miners at French Guiana’s border with Brazil. Design An exploratory qualitative study with in-depth interviews and observations was conducted between November 2019 and February 2020. Setting The study was conducted in the main medical healthcare service and two non-governmental organisation premises in the Oyapock border region, which is a supply area for illegal gold mining sites. Participants Fifteen people living with HIV diagnosed with CD4 count <350 cells 106/L were interviewed. Seven women and eight men participated; they were between 31 and 79 years old, and the median time since HIV diagnosis was 6 years. Eight had links to illegal gold mining. Findings Three key themes for late HIV diagnosis emerged: (1) the presence of economic and political structural factors which constitute risks for this illegal activity, specifically the repression of gold mining sites by French Armed Forces and the distance from healthcare facilities; (2) representations of the body and health, related to the living conditions of this population; prioritisation of health emergencies and long-term self-medication; and (3) gender roles shaping masculinity and heterosexuality contributing to a perception of not being at risk of HIV and delaying testing. Conclusion This study highlights structural, group-based and individual factors that reduce access to HIV testing and healthcare in general for a population of migrant workers in an illegal gold mining area. Faced with harsh living conditions and state repression, these workers develop a vision of health which prioritises the functionality of the body. Associated with gender roles which are partly shaped both by the mining activity and its geographical location, this vision can lead to late HIV diagnosis.
| S-EPMC9445782 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Brazilian garimpeiros are a highly hard-to-reach and mobile population, with little access to basic hygiene and health services, and have been crossing the border to work irregularly in gold mines in French Guiana since the 1990s. This study aimed to characterize this population and identify their main health problems. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the municipality of Oiapoque-AP, with two surveys: before (2018) and after (2019) the implementation of Malakit. Individuals were recruited from resting places and given a questionnaire regarding demographic variables, history and knowledge of malaria, and health issues in the mines. Simultaneously, a clinical evaluation was performed. The garimpeiros were mainly men from Maranhão, Pará, and Amapá, with a low educational level and who had worked on average for 10 years in the mining sites. The study population mentioned numerous health problems: malaria, followed by leishmaniasis, flu, body aches, headaches, and digestive problems. Other diseases mentioned were skin diseases, bat bites, hepatitis, and HIV infection. This vulnerable population is constantly subjected to heavy routines and exposed to different diseases and infections that can spread across borders. Knowledge of this is essential for developing public health policies that can be integrated into specific epidemiological situations.
| S-EPMC11768861 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Phytophthora in French Guiana Raw sequence reads
| PRJNA516694 | ENA
Project description:Over the past decade, there has been an increase in small-scale gold mining in the arid southern region of Egypt. Miners extract ore from the Eastern Desert and transport it to Nile Valley farms, where ample water facilitates the processing. In Edfu, Egypt, the lack of economic opportunities prompted resource-constrained farmers to transform their agricultural lands into gold mines. The study utilized a multifaceted approach that integrated various methodologies, including remote sensing technologies, field surveys, chemical analyses, and statistical methods. The study aimed to assess the concentrations of carcinogenic agents and determine the potential human health risks associated with these agents in soil and fish samples collected within the city boundaries. The study examined correlations between various heavy metals (HMs), such as Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Hg, in Soilsamples collected in 2020 and 2022. The results revealed direct proportional relationships among specific HMs. The Index of Geoaccumulation (Igeo) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) revealed significantly elevated values in both years, indicating potential environmental degradation. Although no carcinogenic hazards were identified, non-carcinogenic risks related to ingestion were observed for both adults and children exposed to mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), and arsenic (As). Contamination Factor (CF) values were also significantly high. Ecological risks were observed in both Soiland water, as well as in Nile Tilapia samples. Hazard Quotients (HQ) calculated for Nile Tilapia indicated potential risks for both adults and children, particularly associated with elevated arsenic (As) levels. This transformation elicited concerns regarding environmental and health implications, leading us to undertake a thorough investigation.
| S-EPMC11787331 | biostudies-literature