Is onchocerciasis elimination in Africa feasible by 2025: a perspective based on lessons learnt from the African control programmes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Onchocerciasis is found predominantly in Africa where large scale vector control started in 1974. Registration and donation of ivermectin by Merck & Co in 1987 enabled mass treatment with ivermectin in all endemic countries in Africa and the Americas. Although elimination of onchocerciasis with ivermectin was considered feasible only in the Americas, recently it has been shown possible in Africa too, necessitating fundamental changes in technical and operational approaches and procedures.

Main body

The American programme(OEPA) operating in onchocerciasis epidemiological settings similar to the mild end of the complex epidemiology of onchocerciasis in Africa, has succeeded in eliminating onchocerciasis from 4 of its 6 endemic countries. This was achieved through bi

SUBMITTER: Dadzie Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6029117 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature