Yaws and syphilis in the Garkida area of Nigeria

Sixty-four (4.2 %) cases of yaws and forty-one (2.7 %) cases of syphilis we re encountered during an epidemiological survey for filariasis in the mid-H awal river valley. This finding is despite the official position that yaws has been eradicated in Nigeria. The focus of the disease was localised in f our of the six villages that were surveyed in the Garkida area of the valle y. The disease was more common among farmers than among occupational groups . Apart from yaws, syphilis (2.7%) which is another treponematoid infection was also encountered during the filariasis survey. The present findings im ply that there still exists a benign transmission of the disease in the are a and unless an immediate and effective control programme is initiated, yaw s may still become a very important disease in Nigeria. The epidemiological aspects and public health implication of treponematosis especially of yaws , in this area are discussed.