Reaching the london declaration on neglected tropical diseases goals for onchocerciasis: an economic evaluation of increasing the frequency of ivermectin treatment in Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recently, there has been a shift in onchocerciasis control policy, changing from prevention of morbidity toward elimination of infection. Switching from annual to biannual ivermectin distribution may accelerate progress toward the elimination goals. However, the settings where this strategy would be cost effective in Africa have not been described.

Methods

An onchocerciasis transmission framework (EpiOncho) was coupled to a disease model in order to explore the impact on disability-adjusted life years averted, program cost, and program duration of biannual ivermectin treatment in different epidemiological and programmatic scenarios in African savannah.

Results

While biannual treatment yields only small additional health gains, its benefit is pronounced in t

SUBMITTER: Turner HC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4166981 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature