Report of the fourth Meeting of the WHO Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup, Virtual meeting, 28−29 October 2020

Overview

The fourth meeting of the Onchocerciasis Technical Advisory Subgroup (OTS) of the World Health Organization (WHO) was held virtually on 28–29 October 2020.

The meeting reviewed some important issues and approved recommendations on

• (i) the Ov16 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for decisions on stopping mass drug administration (MDA) and mapping elimination of onchocerciasis;
• (ii) integrated evaluations for onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF);
• (iii) country feedback on onchocerciasis elimination; and (iv) updates on the black fly diagnostic initiative, dried blood spot (DBS) rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and on the draft entomological manual for onchocerciasis elimination programmes.