The immune system of Noma patients is usually weakened because of malnutrition or infectious diseases such as measles, malaria, German measles and meningitis. Bacteria can settle in the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose and cause infections.

At this point, the disease can be treated with mouth washes and antibiotics. Although Noma is a bacterial infection, no cases of contagion are known. Intensive saliva exchange between two people is needed for the bacteria to multiply.

All 400 cases that have been examined so far have been isolated instances of the disease. Examinations will increase in the future in order to compile statistical data.

First phase