1. The Galabat-Metema cross-border onchocerciasis focus: The first coordinated interruption of onchocerciasis transmission in Africa.
- Author
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Moses N Katabarwa, Isam M A Zarroug, Nebiyu Negussu, Nabil M Aziz, Zerihun Tadesse, Wigdan A Elmubark, Zainab Shumo, Kadu Meribo, Hashim Kamal, Aderajew Mohammed, Yewondwossen Bitew, Tewodros Seid, Firdaweke Bekele, Abebual Yilak, Tekola Endeshaw, Mohammed Hassen, Abate Tillahun, Fikresilasie Samuel, Henok Birhanu, Tadesse Asmare, Daniel Boakye, Sindew M Feleke, Thomas Unnasch, Rory Post, Tarig Higazi, Emily Griswold, Charles Mackenzie, and Frank Richards
- Subjects
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine ,RC955-962 ,Public aspects of medicine ,RA1-1270 - Abstract
BACKGROUND:Onchocerciasis transmission across international borders is not uncommon, yet a coordinated cross border stops mass drug administration (MDA) decision has not been documented. METHODS/PRINCIPLE FINDINGS:The Galabat-Metema focus involves neighboring districts on the border between Sudan and Ethiopia. Mass drug administration (MDA) was provided once and subsequently twice per year in this focus, with twice-per-year beginning in Ethiopia's Metema subfocus in 2016 and in the Sudan's Galabat subfocus in 2008. Ov16 ELISA-based serosurveys were conducted in 6072 children under 10 years of age in the Metema subfocus in 2014, and 3931 in the Galabat in 2015. Between 2014 and 2016, a total of 27,583 vector Simulium damnosum flies from Metema and 9,148 flies from Galabat were tested by pool screen PCR for Onchocerca volvulus O-150 DNA. Only 8 children were Ov16 seropositive (all in the Metema subfocus); all were negative by skin snip PCR. The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (UCL) for Ov16 seropositive was
- Published
- 2020
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