[Insularity and epidemic risks in Réunion]

Abstract

The risks of epidemics in Reunion island depend on determining or favourable factors. The determining factors, links in the epidemic chain, may or may not exist but they can be introduced from the outside. The risk of importing these factors is especially important when the exchanges with the epidemic zones are easy and frequent. Reunion island, at the moment exempt from certain pathologies such as malaria, dengue-fever and urinary Schistosomiasis, is a good example. However, if the presence of these determining factors is necessary, that is not enough in itself. Other factors come into play; in particular physical (leptospirosis) or socio-economic conditions (cysticercosis, intestinal parasitic diseases). The latter play a major role in the hygienic conditions and also in the research and prevention which are easier on an island.