Attitude of involved epidemiologists toward the first European outbreak of rhinosporidiosis

Abstract

Rhinosporidiosis occurs extremely seldom in Europe. Until recently, the disease was unknown in Serbia (Yugoslavia). An outbreak that began in January 1992, affected 21 individuals. All of them had been exposed to the same source of stagnant water. The purpose of this study was to assess which control measures would be selected by epidemiologists potentially involved in the control of the disease. Most respondents (20 of 32 or 62.5%) opted only for an information release as the most appropriate control measure. The reasons listed by the epidemiologists to justify their choice of optimal control measures showed that the political and economic hardships, including an embargo imposed upon rump Yugoslavia, did not hamper their judgment. The turmoil associated with the disintegration of Yugoslavia, however, appears to have significantly affected the information level of the participants.