Yaws
GMJ News knowledge hub · last reviewed August 2026 · Georgian Medical Journal
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Yaws — caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue (a bacterium closely related to the agent of syphilis, but spread through skin-to-skin contact among children rather than sexually) — is a WHO Neglected Tropical Disease affecting approximately 46,000 children per year in tropical forest communities in West/Central Africa, the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia, causing chronic disfiguring skin lesions and — in late disease — destructive bone and cartilage damage (WHO). A landmark treatment breakthrough: azithromycin (single oral dose 30mg/kg) equals traditional intramuscular benzathine penicillin — enabling community-level mass drug administration campaigns that have moved WHO’s yaws eradication goal to 2030.
Key messages
NTD targeting eradication by 2030 — azithromycin single dose
Yaws is targeted for eradication by WHO by 2030 using total community treatment with azithromycin — a single oral dose of 30mg/kg that equals traditional intramuscular benzathine penicillin, enabling mass treatment campaigns in remote communities.
Children in tropical forests — skin-to-skin transmission
Yaws exclusively affects children and adolescents in tropical/subtropical forest communities — transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact (not sexually transmitted), with the initial painless papilloma-ulcer ("mother yaw") typically on exposed skin of the lower limbs.
Related to syphilis but not sexually transmitted
Treponema pallidum pertenue — the yaws bacterium — is closely related to T.p. pallidum (syphilis). Unlike syphilis, yaws is not sexually transmitted, does not affect internal organs in the same way, and does not cause congenital infection.
46,000 cases/year — massively underreported
WHO estimates approximately 46,000 new yaws cases/year officially, predominantly in 14 endemic countries in West/Central Africa, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Indonesia. True burden is likely much higher given poor surveillance capacity in endemic areas.
Late yaws causes permanent disability
Late/tertiary yaws causes destructive, disfiguring and disabling lesions: gummatous ulcers of skin and bone; hypertrophic periostitis (painful bone swelling); joint disease; and gangosa (destructive rhinopharyngitis — destroying the nose and palate). These are not life-threatening but profoundly disabling.
Historical elimination and re-emergence
A 1952-1964 WHO/UNICEF global yaws eradication campaign treated approximately 50 million people and reduced yaws cases by 95%. However, the effort was halted before eradication, allowing re-emergence. The current DOLF initiative aims to complete what the 1952 campaign started.
Key statistics
Yaws cases by country — WHO officially reported (latest available)
Source: WHO. Papua New Guinea and DRC carry the largest remaining burdens.
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Related health topics
NTDsSyphilis (related treponema)Leprosy (skin NTD)Guinea worm (eradication model)Azithromycin resistance concernChild health
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