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Towards the endgame and beyond: complexities and challenges for the elimination of infectious diseases

Author(s): Klepac, Petra; Metcalf, C. Jessica E.; McLean, Angela R.; Hampson, Katie

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Abstract: Successful control measures have interrupted the local transmission of human infectious diseases such as measles, malaria and polio, and saved and improved billions of lives. Similarly, control efforts have massively reduced the incidence of many infectious diseases of animals, such as rabies and rinderpest, with positive benefits for human health and livelihoods across the globe. However, disease elimination has proven an elusive goal, with only one human and one animal pathogen globally eradicated. As elimination targets expand to regional and even global levels, hurdles may emerge within the endgame when infections are circulating at very low levels, turning the last mile of these public health marathons into the longest mile. In this theme issue, we bring together recurring challenges that emerge as we move towards elimination, highlighting the unanticipated consequences of particular ecologies and pathologies of infection, and approaches to their management.
Publication Date: 24-Jun-2013
Electronic Publication Date: 24-Jun-2013
Citation: Klepac, P., Metcalf, C.J.E., McLean, A.R., Hampson, K. (2013). Towards the endgame and beyond: complexities and challenges for the elimination of infectious diseases. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 368 (1623), 20120137 - 20120137. doi:10.1098/rstb.2012.0137
DOI: doi:10.1098/rstb.2012.0137
ISSN: 0962-8436
EISSN: 1471-2970
Pages: 20120137 - 20120137
Type of Material: Journal Article
Journal/Proceeding Title: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Version: Final published version. This is an open access article.



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