Overview (Buruli ulcer)

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Buruli ulcer is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium ulcerans. It often affects the skin and sometimes bone and can lead to permanent disfigurement. The bacterium produces a toxin that causes skin damage. Without early treatment, Buruli ulcer (BU) can lead to long-term disability, stigma associated with socioeconomic burden. The exact mode of transmission remains unknown. Buruli ulcer has been reported in 33 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Western Pacific. Most cases occur in tropical and subtropical regions except in Australia and Japan.