3 research outputs found
Eliminating Onchocerciasis after 14 Years of Vector Control: A Proved Strategy
From 1976 through 1989, weekly aerial spraying operations against blackflies were carried out along the rivers of a wide savanna area of West Africa (~700,000 km2) where onchocerciasis was hyperendemic. The level of endemicity began to decrease significantly after 4 years of vector control and became very low in 1989. This situation has been maintained without any vector control activity or chemotherapy, and no incidence of any new cases has been detected. An ophthalmological study carried out in 2000 has confirmed these good results, showing only cicatricial ocular lesions in the examined population. These results led to the conclusion that 14 years of vector control may achieve long-term elimination of onchocerciasis, even in the absence of chemotherapy, provided that the treated areas are not subjected to any contamination by exogenous parasites carried in infected humans or flies
Trente ans de lutte contre lâonchocercose en Afrique de lâOuest. Traitements larvicides et protection de lâenvironnement
La lutte contre l'onchocercose, ou cĂ©citĂ© des riviĂšres, une maladie parasitaire endĂ©mique, fut entreprise en Afrique de l'Ouest dans une perspective do dĂ©veloppement durable. Tous les moyens technologiques disponibles ont de ce fait Ă©tĂ© mobilisĂ©s pour le contrĂŽle du vecteur, une simulie, puis du parasite responsables de cette maladie, par le Programme de Lutte contre lâOnchocercose en Afrique de l'Ouest (OCP). La lutte antivectorielle consistant en Ă©pandages dâinsecticides chimiques sur les sites de dĂ©veloppement de la simulie dans les riviĂšres, il est apparu indispensable dâassurer la sauvegarde de lâenvironnement aquatique qui fournit aux communautĂ©s riveraines eau et ressources biologiques. Les technologies les plus modernes ont Ă©tĂ© mises en Ćuvre dĂšs leur mise au point, pour combattre la maladie, contribuant ainsi Ă la protection de ce milieu. Le programme de surveillance Ă©cologique des riviĂšres traitĂ©es par des larvicides anti-simulies a Ă©tĂ© mis en place dĂšs le lancement dâOCP. et assurĂ© par des spĂ©cialistes de I' hydrobiologie des pays africains participants du Programme, sous la supervision dâun groupe international dâexperts indĂ©pendants, le Groupe Ăcologique. OCP est incontestablement un succĂšs aussi bien pour ce qui est du contrĂŽle de la maladie que de la protection de l'environnement. Il est l'exemple unique au monde dâun programme de santĂ© publique de longue durĂ©e qui depuis son origine a mis en Ćuvre tout ce qui Ă©tait possible pour harmoniser les enjeux de lâamĂ©lioration de la santĂ© et ceux de la protection de lâenvironnement. Il s'est achevĂ© avec la satisfaction de laisser aux gĂ©nĂ©rations montantes un environnement non dĂ©gradĂ© et des vallĂ©es libĂ©rĂ©es de lâonchocercose, qui permettront dâaccroĂźtre la productivitĂ© agricole des pays africains.The control of onchocerciasis, or river blindness, an endemic parasitic disease, was implemented in West Africa in the perspective of sustainable development AH the available technological means to fight this disease, by way of the control of its blackfly vector, then its parasite, were therefore implemented by the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa (OCP). Vector control being achieved through applications of chemicals on its river breeding sites, it was necessary, at the same time, to fight for the preservation of the aquatic environment, which supplies the communities that live along the rivers with water and biological resources. This was the spirit in which the OCP was set up and implemented, and the most modem technologies were used as they become available to fight the disease, thus facilitating the preservation of the aquatic environment. This Programme has indisputably been a success as regards the control of the disease as also from the point of view of the preservation of the environment The aquatic monitoring programme of the rivers under treatment with anti-simulid larvicides was set up right from the very beginning, and performed by national experts of the Participating Countries of the Programme, under the aegis of a group of international independent experts, the Ecological Croup The Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa is an unique example in the world of a long-term public health programme which has made every effort possible from its inception to adequately combine health and environment issues. It ended with the satisfaction of bequeathing to the coming generations a non degraded environment and valleys freed from onchocerciasis which would increase the agricultural productivity of the countries