African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control: progress report, 2014–2015. Weekly Epidemiological Record. WHO, 2015
Overview
Human onchocerciasis caused by the filarial parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulus is transmitted by the bites of blackflies of the genus Simulium. The disease is one of the neglected tropical diseases for which preventive chemotherapy is implemented (PC-NTD) and the disease is targeted for elimination where feasible.
This report highlights key aspects of the Programme’s operations including progress made in disease mapping, community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI), co-implementation of other health interventions, implementation aiming to increase the number of treatments of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis, and impact assessment of treatment of onchocerciasis.