Prevention and control of schistosomiasis: a current perspective.
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that ranks second only to malaria in terms of human suffering in the tropics and subtropics. Five species are known to infect man and there are currently over 240 million people infected worldwide. The cornerstone of control to date has been mass drug administration with 40 mg/kg of praziquantel but there are problems with this approach. Human and bovine vaccines are in various stages of development. Integrated control, targeting the life cycle, is the only approach that will lead to sustainability and future elimination.
Department of Health, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines.
Marianette T
MT
Inobaya
Department of Health, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines.
Remigio M
RM
Olveda
Discipline of Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Thao Np
TN
Chau
Griffith Health Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, Australia.
David U
DU
Olveda
Griffith Health Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, Australia.
Allen Gp
AG
Ross
mass drug administration; morbidity; schistosomiais; treatment and control