Parasitic Diseases - Surveillance Features Parasitic Diseases

PAHO/WHO Preparatory Meeting on Epidemiological Data Needed to Plan Elimination of Schistosomiasis in the Caribbean (St. George, Grenada, 13–14 December 2007)
Schistosomiasis or snail fever, a neglected parasitic disease affecting the poor, remains endemic in parts of Brazil, Venezuela, and the Caribbean. The primary objective of this meeting was to meet and interchange with national authorities and schistosomiasis specialists to gauge the level of interest and estimate the time frame and resources needed for elimination of Schistosomiasis in the Caribbean. It covered surveillance, treatment, ecological and epidemiological issues. This page contains a summary, the presentations, and the final report.
psit-schisto-mtg-07.htm

Geographic Distribution of Onchocerciasis in the Americas
This map shows the distribution of onchocerciasis (river blindness) in the countries of the Americas.
WHO

The Burden of Neglected Diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean Compared with Some Other Communicable Diseases
This graph makes a case for increased attention to neglected diseases by illustrating their tremendous disease burden as compared to other communicable diseases that receive a higher level of attention from health systems.
psit-nd-graph.htm

Schistomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Parasite Infections: Preliminary Estimates of the Number of Children Treated with Albendazole or Mebendazole (WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record / WER, No. 16, 2006, 81, 145–164)
In the Region of the Americas, the whole pre-school and school-age populations are assumed to be at risk of geohelminth and schistome infections. The burden of disease caused by infection with schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) remains enormous. This article gives the results of the WHO Partners in Parasite Control (PPC) system to track the progress of each endemic country towards the 2010 global target of regular treatment for 75% of all children at risk.
WHO/WER