Hundaland

Abstract

»Hundaland« has long been known in the Faroe Islands as a skin disease in indivíduals who have recently been in contact with sheep. In the early 1970s it was identified as ecthyma contagiosum or orf. Tbe main objcct of the present paper is to describe the pathological picture based on information from medical officers in the Faroes. The estimated number of cases is 25 a year. The disease occurs especially in males, and is most often localized to the hands. Usually there is only one red spot, growing larger and ihicker. It usually heals in 2 to 4 weeks. Sometimes there are after-effects. Orf occurs most frequently in Octobei-December. It is argued that a thorough investigation should be made into orf in sheep.