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Homeopathy 2010; 99(03): 156-166
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2010.05.009
Original Paper
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2010

Large-scale application of highly-diluted bacteria for Leptospirosis epidemic control

Gustavo Bracho
1   Finlay Institute, Ave. 27, La Lisa, Havana City, Cuba
,
Enrique Varela
2   Agromin Enterprise Group, Havana City, Cuba
,
Rolando Fernández
3   Homeopathy Department, Finlay Institute, Ave. 7ma, Playa, Havana City, Cuba
,
Barbara Ordaz
3   Homeopathy Department, Finlay Institute, Ave. 7ma, Playa, Havana City, Cuba
,
Natalia Marzoa
3   Homeopathy Department, Finlay Institute, Ave. 7ma, Playa, Havana City, Cuba
,
Jorge Menéndez
4   Clinical Trials and Medical Managing Department, Finlay Institute, Ave. 27, La Lisa, Havana City, Cuba
,
Luis García
5   Bacterial Vaccine Department, Finlay Institute, Ave. 17, Playa, Havana City, Cuba
,
Esperanza Gilling
6   Provincial Centre for Homeopathy, Holguín, Cuba
,
Richard Leyva
7   Provincial Centre for Homeopathy, Granma, Cuba
,
Reynaldo Rufín
8   Provincial Centre for Epidemiology and Hygiene, Holguín, Cuba
,
Rubén de la Torre
9   National Medical Services, Havana City, Cuba
,
Rosa L. Solis
10   Research Vice-presidency Finlay Institute, Ave. 17, Playa, Havana City, Cuba
,
Niurka Batista
5   Bacterial Vaccine Department, Finlay Institute, Ave. 17, Playa, Havana City, Cuba
,
Reinier Borrero
5   Bacterial Vaccine Department, Finlay Institute, Ave. 17, Playa, Havana City, Cuba
,
Concepción Campa
1   Finlay Institute, Ave. 27, La Lisa, Havana City, Cuba
› Author Affiliations
Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

Received30 November 2009
revised24 March 2010

accepted17 May 2010

Publication Date:
20 December 2017 (online)

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Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of major importance in the tropics where the incidence peaks in rainy seasons. Natural disasters represent a big challenge to Leptospirosis prevention strategies especially in endemic regions. Vaccination is an effective option but of reduced effectiveness in emergency situations. Homeoprophylactic interventions might help to control epidemics by using highly-diluted pathogens to induce protection in a short time scale. We report the results of a very large-scale homeoprophylaxis (HP) intervention against Leptospirosis in a dangerous epidemic situation in three provinces of Cuba in 2007.

Methods: Forecast models were used to estimate possible trends of disease incidence. A homeoprophylactic formulation was prepared from dilutions of four circulating strains of Leptospirosis. This formulation was administered orally to 2.3 million persons at high risk in an epidemic in a region affected by natural disasters. The data from surveillance were used to measure the impact of the intervention by comparing with historical trends and non-intervention regions.

Results: After the homeoprophylactic intervention a significant decrease of the disease incidence was observed in the intervention regions. No such modifications were observed in non-intervention regions. In the intervention region the incidence of Leptospirosis fell below the historic median. This observation was independent of rainfall.

Conclusions: The homeoprophylactic approach was associated with a large reduction of disease incidence and control of the epidemic. The results suggest the use of HP as a feasible tool for epidemic control, further research is warranted.

Keywords

Homeoprophylaxis - Prevention - Leptospirosis - Epidemics - Cuba
 

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