A primary health care approach to an outbreak of cutaneous larva migrans

Primary health care (PHC) has been defined by the World Health Organisation as essential health care made universally accessible to community members, with their full participation, at a cost affordable to the community. PHC could therefore be used in the prevention and treatment of zoonotic diseases in humans, as such diseases are more prevalent in disadvantaged communities. The successful use of PHC principles in the treatment and control of cutaneous larva migrans in children in a semi-rural, low-income community is discussed in this paper. Constraints to implementation of PHC principles were identified as resistance from health care professionals, lack of interdepartmental cooperation and bureaucratic delays. It is concluded that PHC principles can be used successfully for the prevention and treatment of specific zoonoses provided that an aetiological diagnosis is made and the epidemiology of the condition understood. The results also confirmed the relevance of the veterinarian in the control of zoonotic diseases as part of the PHC team.