Celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Mectizan donation all year with our series of new videos. Eighth: Progress – Transmission of river blindness has declined in many endemic areas.
Since 1987 when Mectizan was donated to control river blindness, transmission of the disease has declined in many endemic areas. In the Americas, WHO verified that the disease was eliminated in Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico. In Africa, five large states in Nigeria have eliminated transmission of river blindness. Today, the goal is to eliminate transmission globally. Lymphatic filariasis elimination is also making progress. Togo, Malawi, and Yemen have all been validated by WHO for eliminating the disease using the combination of Mectizan and albendazole. The 2030 WHO targets are to eliminate transmission of river blindness in 12 additional countries and to eliminate LF in 58 countries. What will it take to be successful?