CSU 75/2011: WHEN IS A DISEASE ERADICABLE?

Thursday, 3rd of March 2011

Unblushingly, I reproduce a discussion article from the year 2000 that has weathered the last decade quite well. Writing in the American Journal of Public Health, Aylward and colleagues review the evidence on 20th century eradication efforts, successful and failed, and look forward to future targets.

Note the asterisk in the following table. Rubella eradication becomes more attractive when part of a global eradication effort against measles.

Full text is at http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/90/10/1515

Table 3—Dahlem Disease Eradication Criteria for Candidate Eradicable Diseases

Disease Biological and Consensus on Positive Broad Societal

Technical Feasibility Costs and Benefits and Political Support

Measles Yes Yes No

Rubella Yes No* No

Hep B Yes Yes No

Hep A Yes No No

* Yes, if part of a measles eradication effort