Epidemic of chancroid in Greenland 1977-78

In Greenland there has been a rapid increase in the incidence of gonorrhoea and syphilis during past decades. In 1977 there was an epidemic of chancroid along the west coast of Greenland, with 975 cases reported from some 32,500 adults. The number of reported cases increased until October, 1977, and subsequently decreased. 186 patients were studied. Many of these had previously had gonorrhoea and syphilis. Male patients were both Eskimoan and Danish but female patients were solely Eskimoan. The sex ratio (M/F) was 1.6/1. The incubation period was 4 days in men and 13 days in women. Symptom-free female carriers did not seem to be an important reservoir of infection. 15% of the patients were admitted to hospital with buboes or extensive lesions. The clinical course was uncomplicated in most cases. Ulcers healed within a week of treatment with sulphonamide. Chancroid can be expected to disappear in Greenland within a short time.