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Resources and Tools
Global Health Observatory Map Gallery
WHO Global Health Observatory Map Gallery: searchable database of maps illustrating burden of disease.
Sample recent map (posted May 17, 2018): World: IHR monitoring framework: IHR radionuclear core capacity implementation status, 2017
Videos
Series “For As Long As It’s Needed” Video 5: Current Statistics
Fifth and final in a series of five documentary videos exploring the history and impact of the Mectizan Donation Program.
News
Measuring up to a billion treatments: Sightsavers and partners have reached a historic milestone in the fight against neglected tropical diseases
12 April 2018
Enjoy this article on the billionth treatment for river blindness and lymphatic filariasis provided by Sightsavers and partners.
News
Faces of River Blindness: Kisanchi Village. Carter Center Slideshow
23 March 2018
The Carter Center and partners are working with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health to eliminate river blindness in nine of the country’s states, including Plateau, where Kisanchi is located.
Scientific Publication
Cross-border issues: an important component of onchocerciasis elimination programmes
Article on the importance of cross-border issues in onchocerciasis elimination programmes. Bush, Sodahlon, Downs and Mackenzie, International Health, Volume 10, Issue suppl_1, 1 March 2018, Pages i54–i59.Scientific Publication
Alternative treatment strategies to accelerate the elimination of onchocerciasis
Article on the use of alternative (or complementary) treatment strategies (ATSs) to accelerate the elimination of onchocerciasis. Boussinesq et al., International Health, Volume 10, Issue suppl_1, 1 March 2018, Pages i40–i48.
Scientific Publication
After 70 years of fighting an age-old scourge, onchocerciasis in Uganda, the end is in sight
Article on eliminating onchocercias as a public health problem in Uganda. Katabarwa et al, International Health, Volume 10, Issue suppl_1, 1 March 2018, Pages i79–i88.
Scientific Publication
Diagnostics for onchocerciasis in the era of elimination
A review summarizing the progress made in identifying diagnostics that meet the specialized requirements needed to verify onchocerciasis elimination, as well as a discussion of why these tests were selected and a summary of the needs that still exist to complete the arsenal of diagnostic tools that will be useful as the goal of elimination is achieved.
Scientific Publication
Establishing quality assured (QA) laboratory support for onchocerciasis elimination in Africa
Article on the acquisition of quality-assured (QA) data that ultimately define the absence of infection or transmission of onchocerciasis in previously endemic areas in Africa.Scientific Publication
For as Long as Necessary: Examining 30 years of MSD’s Focus on Achieving Elimination of Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis
This article provides an overview of the three decades of dedicated effort Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A.*has put into its donation of Mectizan to assist in achieving the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis.
Scientific Publication
Onchocerciasis in Yemen: moving forward towards an elimination program
This publication reviews the history of the efforts to control onchocerciasis in Yemen and the current status of the disease, and identifies the essential changes needed to a mass drug administration (MDA) approach as the national program addresses elimination.
Scientific Publication
Onchocerciasis in Yemen: moving forward towards an elimination program
The history of the control efforts and the current status of the disease are reviewed and the essential changes needed to a mass drug administration (MDA) approach are identified as the national program addresses elimination.
Scientific Publication
Onchocerciasis: shifting the target from control to elimination requires a new first-step—elimination mapping
Journal article discussing the concept that all areas where the worm that causes onchocerciasis might currently be transmitted—and where mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin treatment has not been delivered previously—must now be identified by careful, detailed “elimination mapping”.
Scientific Publication
Onchocerciasis: the beginning of the end
The purpose of this publication is to provide proof of concept that, through a strong partnership between Merck’s donation of Mectizan, the endemic countries and donors, we can eliminate onchocerciasis, a scourge that was once classified as a disease that could only be controlled.
Scientific Publication
Operationalization of the test and not treat strategy to accelerate the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Central Africa
Article discussing reducing the cost of the test and not treat (TaNT) strategy with a smaller team (three people) selected within affected communities.Scientific Publication
Progress toward elimination of onchocerciasis in the Americas
This article addresses elimination of onchocerciasis transmission in the Americas. With four of the six originally endemic American countries now WHO verified as having eliminated onchocerciasis transmission, and 95% of ivermectin treatments in the region halted, the regional focus is now on the remaining active transmission zone, called the Yanomami Area, on the border between Venezuela and Brazil.
Scientific Publication
Refocusing vector assessment towards the elimination of onchocerciasis from Africa: a review of the current status in selected countries
Report regarding the status of onchocerciasis transmission in black flies as assessed in five countries in Africa. International Health, Volume 10, Issue suppl_1, 1 March 2018, Pages i27–i32.Scientific Publication
The role of national committees in eliminating onchocerciasis
Article covering the role national onchocerciasis elimination committees (NOECs) play in helping ministries of health complete the pathway to successful verification of elimination of onchocerciasis (river blindness), as outlined in the 2016 World Health Organization guidelines.Scientific Publication
The role of the NGDO Coordination Group for the Elimination of Onchocerciasis
This article covers the role of the NGDO Coordination Group for the Control of Onchocerciasis. The Group was launched in 1992, and with the paradigm shift from control of disease to elimination of onchocerciasis transmission, the Group shifted its orientation to that new paradigm in 2013.
Scientific Publication
Transitioning from river blindness control to elimination: steps toward stopping treatment
This paper discusses some of the important issues that programmes are grappling with as they transition to elimination and provides some potential approaches that programmes can use to address them.