The emergence of LGV in Western Europe: what do we know, what can we do?

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), a systemic sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a variety of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, occurs rarely in the Western world [1]. However, in January 2004, public health officials in the Netherlands noted an outbreak of cases of LGV proctitis among men who have sex with men (MSM) [2]. Since then, cases have been reported from several European countries, and the United States of America and Canada. In this issue three countries report on the current status of LGV [3-5].