Homeoprophylaxis success in Cuba

Leptospirosis is a severe and contagious bacterial infection of major importance in the tropics, particularly during the rainy season.

Researchers at the Finlay Institute, in Havana, Cuba, report the results of large-scale homeoprophylaxis against Leptospirosis (also known as Weil’s Disease) in a dangerous epidemic situation in 3 provinces of Cuba in 2007.

First, the details.

• A homeoprophylactic formulation was prepared from dilutions of 4 circulating strains of Leptospirosis.
• This formulation was administered by mouth to 2.3 million people at high risk for an epidemic in a region affected by natural disasters.
• Forecast models were used to estimate possible trends of disease incidence.
• Data from surveillance were used to measure the impact of the response to the homeoprophylactic to historical trends and regions where people received no treatment.

And, the results.

• There was a significant decrease in disease incidence following homeoprophylaxis.
• Within a few weeks the number of cases decreased from 38 to 4 cases per 100,000 per week, significantly fewer than the historically-based forecast for those weeks of the year.
• The incidence of Leptospirosis was as forecast among the 8.8 million people from the other provinces where homeoprophylaxis wasn’t used.
• The effect appeared to be sustained.
  • There was an 84% reduction in infection in the treated region the following year (2008).
• For the first time, incidence did not correlate with rainfall.
• In the same period, incidence in the untreated region increased 22%.

The bottom line?

The authors concluded, “The homeoprophylactic approach was associated with a large reduction of disease incidence and control of the epidemic.”

These findings suggest that large-scale homeoprophylaxis against Leptospirosis is feasible for epidemic control. More research is needed to confirm the results.

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8/11/10 18:11 JR