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Onchocerciasis distribution and severity in five West African countries
G De Sole1, R Baker, K Y Dadzie
1Onchocerciasis Control Programme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Onchocerciasis affects over 1.4 million people in West Africa, causing blindness in nearly 24,000. This study maps disease distribution to guide control efforts for river blindness.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Tropical Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is a major public health concern in West Africa.
- The Onchocerciasis Control Programme expanded its reach to Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence and severity of onchocerciasis in the new operational areas.
- To map the distribution of the disease and identify populations at high risk of blindness.
Main Methods:
- Stratified random sampling surveyed 215 villages.
- 92 non-representative villages were surveyed for confirmation.
- 608 villages were examined to map high-risk areas for onchocercal blindness.
Main Results:
- An estimated 1,475,367 people were infected, with 23,728 blinded.
- Low risk areas included northern/western study regions and the lower Niger basin.
- High risk areas identified: upper Niger basin, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Bakoye, and lower Niger river basins.
Conclusions:
- The study identified communities at high risk of onchocerciasis.
- Findings support targeted interventions, including mass ivermectin distribution for disease control.