No abstract

In 1985, the US Peace Corps developed a computerized epidemiological surveillance system to monitor health trends in over 5500 Peace Corps Volunteers working in development projects in 62 countries worldwide. Data on 31 health conditions and events are collected monthly from each country; quarterly and annual incidence rates are then calculated, and the analysed data are distributed. In 1987, the most commonly reported health problems were diarrhoea (unclassified), 48 cases per 100 volunteers per year; amoebiasis, 24 per 100 volunteers per year; injuries, 20 per 100 volunteers per year; bacterial skin infections, 19 per 100 volunteers per year; and giardiasis 17 per 100 volunteers per year. Tracking each of these common problems, as well as other selected health conditions, guides design of more specific studies and disease control efforts. Health problems with very low rates (less than 1.0/100 volunteers/year) include hepatitis, schistosomiasis, non-falciparum malaria, and filariasis. The epidemiological surveillance system provides the health data needed to plan, implement, and evaluate health programmes for Peace Corps Volunteers, and provides a model for surveillance in other groups of temporary and permanent residents of developing countries.

No abstract

Background: The risk of acquiring HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections among expatriates in, and travelers to, West Africa is not known. The objective of the study was to examine the risk of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and type 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) infections among Peace Corps volunteers in West Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional serosurvey was carried out in 18 West African countries. Subjects were 2491 returning Peace Corps volunteers. The main outcome measure was seropositivity for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies. Results: From March 1988 through February 1993, of 2491 study participants, no HIV-2 infections were detected, but three HIV-1 infections were. All three HIV-1-infected persons reported having had unprotected sex with host-country national partners. Conclusions: Results suggest that although persons having unprotected sex with partners from countries with a high prevalence of HIV-1 are at risk for acquiring the infection, casual transmission of HIV-1 or HIV-2 is extremely unlikely.

No abstract