02315nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001100001200042700001500054700001200069700001200081700002400093700001300117700001300130700001400143700001400157245009400171856007300265300001000338490001500348050001500363520168100378022001402059       2015                            d1 aCunha C1 aPedrosa VL1 aDias LC1 aBraga A1 aChrusciak-Talhari A1 aSantos M1 aPenna GO1 aTalhari S1 aTalhari C00aA historical overview of leprosy epidemiology and control activities in Amazonas, Brazil.  uhttp://www.scielo.br/pdf/rsbmt/v48s1/0037-8682-rsbmt-48-s1-00055.pdf  a55-620 v48 Suppl 1  aCUNHA 20153 a<p>Leprosy is an ancient infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. According to comparative genomics studies, this disease originated in Eastern Africa or the Near East and spread with successive human migrations. The Europeans and North Africans introduced leprosy into West Africa and the Americas within the past 500 years. In Brazil, this disease arrived with the colonizers who disembarked at the first colonies, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Recife, at the end of the sixteenth century, after which it was spread to the other states. In 1854, the first leprosy cases were identified in State of Amazonas in the north of Brazil. The increasing number of leprosy cases and the need for treatment and disease control led to the creation of places to isolate patients, known as leprosaria. One of them, Colonia Antônio Aleixo was built in Amazonas in 1956 according to the most advanced recommendations for isolation at that time and was deactivated in 1979. The history of the Alfredo da Matta Center (AMC), which was the first leprosy dispensary created in 1955, parallels the history of leprosy in the state. Over the years, the AMC has become one of the best training centers for leprosy, general dermatology and sexually transmitted diseases in Brazil. In addition to being responsible for leprosy control programs in the state, the AMC has carried out training programs on leprosy diagnosis and treatment for health professionals in Manaus and other municipalities of the state, aiming to increase the coverage of leprosy control activities. This paper provides a historical overview of leprosy in State of Amazonas, which is an endemic state in Brazil.</p>
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