Premium
China’s new strategy to block Schistosoma japonicum transmission: experiences and impact beyond schistosomiasis
Author(s) -
Wang LongDe,
Guo JiaGang,
Wu XiaoHua,
Chen HongGen,
Wang TianPing,
Zhu ShaoPing,
Zhang ZhiHai,
Steinmann Peter,
Yang GuoJing,
Wang ShiPing,
Wu ZhongDao,
Wang LiYing,
Hao Yang,
Bergquist Robert,
Utzinger Jürg,
Zhou Xiaog
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02403.x
Subject(s) - schistosomiasis , sanitation , china , environmental health , transmission (telecommunications) , geography , agriculture , environmental protection , medicine , helminths , immunology , engineering , archaeology , pathology , electrical engineering
Summary Despite sustained efforts for its control made over the past 50+ years, the re‐emergence of schistosomiasis in China was noted around the turn of the new millennium. Consequently, a new integrated strategy was proposed to stop the contamination of schistosome eggs to the environment, which emphasizes health education, access to clean water and adequate sanitation, mechanization of agriculture and fencing of water buffaloes, along with chemotherapy. Validation of this integrated control strategy in four pilot counties in the provinces of Anhui, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi revealed significant reductions in the rate of Schistosoma japonicum infection in humans and intermediate host snails. Importantly, this strategy showed an impact on diseases beyond schistosomiasis, signified by concomitant reductions in the prevalence of soil‐transmitted helminth infections. In view of China’s new integrated strategy for transmission control of schistosomiasis showing an ancillary benefit on other helminthic diseases, we encourage others to investigate the scope and limits of integrated control of neglected tropical diseases.