02208nas a2200337   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001200055653001900067653003300086653002000119653002800139653001900167653001000186653001100196653002600207653001200233653001200245653001800257653001300275653002200288653003800310100001400348700001400362700001300376245004200389300001100431490000800442520140600450022001401856       2009                            d  c2009 Jul10aAnimals10aDracunculiasis10aDrug Administration Schedule10aDrug Resistance10aElephantiasis, Filarial10aHIV Infections10aHIV-110aHumans10aImmunization Programs10aleprosy10aMalaria10aPoliomyelitis10aSmallpox10aTropical Medicine10aTuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant1 aSolomon A1 aNayagam S1 aPasvol G00aRecent advances in tropical medicine.  a647-520 v1033 a<p>There have been significant advances in both the classical and neglected tropical diseases, with Guinea worm looking set to be the next disease after smallpox to be eradicated. Aided by a combination of enhanced understanding of the biology of the pathogens, intensification of immunisation activities or mass drug administration, together with the development of synergies with control programmes for co-endemic tropical diseases, polio, lymphatic filariasis, trachoma and onchocerciasis all appear to be in global decline, with good prospects for eventual successful elimination. While the global incidence of new cases of leprosy continues to decrease, the focus of leprosy control efforts has shifted following more widespread recognition that cure of infection does not necessarily prevent disability. Expansion in funding for HIV/AIDS and malaria provides some grounds for optimism about the control of these diseases. However, ongoing education and access remain essential to increasing the uptake of HIV testing and decreasing transmission. Meanwhile, the rise of drug-resistant tuberculosis and malaria is concerning, and the emergence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza A and re-emergence of viruses such as chikungunya and West Nile virus, without significant recent progress in vaccine development, pose additional ongoing challenges to tropical medicine physicians worldwide.</p>  a1878-3503