Large-Scale Preventive Chemotherapy for the Control of Helminth Infection in Western Pacific Countries: Six Years Later

Abstract

In 2001, Urbani and Palmer published a review of the epidemiological situation of helminthiases in the countries of the Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization indicating the control needs in the region. Six years after this inspiring article, large-scale preventive chemotherapy for the control of helminthiasis has scaled up dramatically in the region. This paper analyzes the most recent published and unpublished country information on large-scale preventive chemotherapy and summarizes the progress made since 2000. Almost 39 million treatments were provided in 2006 in the region for the control of helminthiasis: nearly 14 million for the control of lymphatic filariasis, more than 22 million for the control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis, and over 2 million for the control of schistosomiasis. In general, control of these helminthiases is progressing well in the Mekong countries and Pacific Islands. In China, despite harboring the majority of the helminth infections of the region, the control activities have not reached the level of coverage of countries with much more limited financial resources. The control of food-borne trematodes is still limited, but pilot activities have been initiated in China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Vietnam.

Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis in Laos: A Community-Wide Cross-Sectional Study of Humans and Dogs in a Mass Drug Administration Environment

“…The emerging trend of the Lao MDA program is positive but far from conclusive, and we strongly question the use of mebendazole as the only therapy. Because of the lack of good-quality parasitologic field data from northern Laos, we do not concur with other authors 9,30,44 that MDA success is adequately measured by high rates of drug delivery. A thorough appraisal of the MDA program in Laos is warranted, and a robust monitoring program should be urgently initiated, taking into account the role of dogs in the natural history of human hookworm infection.…”

PCR Diagnosis of Opisthorchis viverrini and Haplorchis taichui Infections in a Lao Community in an Area of Endemicity and Comparison of Diagnostic Methods for Parasitological Field Surveys

“…Praziquantel, an effective and broad-spectrum trematocidal agent, is used in community-based deworming programs in Southeast Asia to reduce the burden of food-borne trematodiases and (of particular concern in areas of endemicity, including Lao PDR) to reduce schistosomiasis mekongi (18). A sensitive diagnostic tool is needed to screen communities following repeated rounds of chemotherapy, when the overall infection intensity has decreased.…”

Cognitive Performance and Iron Status are Negatively Associated with Hookworm Infection in Cambodian Schoolchildren

“…20 Cambodia is considered to have one of the highest STH prevalence rates in southeast Asia; however, national prevalence data are not available. A national school-based health program, including twice annual school-based distributions of single-dose mebendazole (500 mg), 21 In view of the abovementioned Cochrane review that concluded that helminth control had little impact on nutritional status, school performance, or cognition, 10 we investigated whether associations between STH, micronutrient status, and cognitive performance existed in Cambodian schoolchildren. The aim of our study was foremost to quantify STH prevalence in Cambodian schoolchildren, and to identify pathways through which helminth infection might affect school performance.…”