Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that in 2020, countries dealing with the onchocerciasis endemic continued to make progress in interrupting transmission of the disease, despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries were able to implement large-scale treatment campaigns by observing robust COVID-19 risk mitigation measures. Ivermectin continues to produce tremendous results in this fight against river blindness.

“Despite pandemic challenges, health workers managed to deliver ivermectin treatment to more than 112 million people,” said Dr. Daniel Argaw Dagne, Unit head, Prevention, Treatment and Care, WHO Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. “In current circumstances, this is a remarkable achievement.”

An Updated Guide

To support the transition from control to elimination and to improve national entomological capacity, WHO is preparing a manual with new techniques and strategies on how to standardize entomological surveys. This will be complemented by research in new diagnostic tools, as diagnosis of onchocerciasis remains a challenge for many national programs.

The integrated approaches advocated in the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030, supported by activities and messaging for the “Stamp Out Oncho” campaign (launched in 2018), are bound to accelerate onchocerciasis elimination.

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The Disease

Onchocerciasis is a parasitic infection caused by infection with the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. Infection is transmitted through the bites of black flies of the genus Simulium that breed in rivers and streams. More than 99% of all onchocerciasis cases are in sub-Saharan Africa, but some small foci exist in the Americas and in Yemen.

The risk of onchocerciasis-related blindness or skin disease has been reduced as a result of continued mass drug administration with ivermectin.