Yaws: towards the WHO eradication target.
In 2012 WHO declared a target to eradicate yaws by 2020. The cornerstone of this strategy is community mass treatment with azithromycin. Initial studies suggest this is a very effective tool that may be capable of interrupting transmission. Alongside this there has been progress in the development and validation of diagnostic tests for yaws. Several new challenges have also emerged, in particular, evidence that Haemophilus ducreyi can cause phenotypically similar ulcers in yaws endemic communities, and evidence for a possible non-human primate reservoir. The 2020 eradication target remains ambitious and more challenges should be expected on the journey.
Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK; Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, WC1E 6JB, UK michael.marks@lshtm.ac.uk.
Michael
M
Marks
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D060740:Disease Eradication; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006191:Haemophilus ducreyi; D006801:Humans; D011323:Primates / Q000382:microbiology; D014210:Treponema pallidum; D014456:Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D014944:World Health Organization; D015001:Yaws / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin
Azithromycin; Eradication; Neglected Tropical Diseases; Treponema pallidum; World Health Organization; Yaws