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Appeal for TB-Leprosy Task Force to Consider Vaccine Development for Both Diseases
Posted on 21 January 2011 by
The editorial in the February 2011 issue of the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease states: “A joint TB-leprosy task force is urgently needed to consider vaccine development that addresses both diseases, both in the process of development and in field testing.”
Experience of using bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) to protect against tuberculosis since 1921, has shown that it can also offer protection against leprosy. Thus the authors of this editorial consider it would be a lost opportunity, verging on a “public health disaster” if the TB research community does not take into consideration the possible additional protective effect of any new TB vaccine also on leprosy.
This editorial was written by Jan Hendrik Richardus of the Department of Public Health Erasmus MC of the University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, in conjunction with two others: Professor Cairns Smith, of the School of Medicine and Dentistry of the University of Aberdeen, who is also currently Chair of the ILEP Technical Commission and Dr Paul Saunderson of American Leprosy Missions and also a member of the ILEP Technical Commission.
Hendrik Richardus J, Saunderson P, Smith C. Will new tuberculosis vaccines provide protection against leprosy?
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2011 Feb;15(2):143.
Currently available from the website of the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease:
Also available for subscribers through PubMed PMID: 21219671.
Categories: Technical information