Recurrence of yaws outbreak in Thailand, 1990

In November 1990, an outbreak of yaws was reported in a rural village of southern Thailand. A survey consisting of history taking, physical examination and blood tests for VDRL and TPHA was undertaken in the whole village and in the primary school of the village. A yaws case was defined as a person who had a positive VDRL confirmed by TPHA without history of other treponemal infection or post-treatment of yaws. Fifty-four cases, an attack rate of 23%, were found in the age range from 2 to 79 years old. The epidemic curve started with a few cases in 1989 and early 1990 with an increasing number of cases from June, and reached its peak in November. Half of the cases (53.7%) were children under 15 years. Male cases were higher than female (1.5:1). A survey of 105 primary school students found an attack rate of 32% (34/105) and the prevalence was higher in younger classes