Heracles Project / Adriano Casulli
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Improving surveillance data on cystic echinococcosis

Surveillance data is key to understand the disease epidemiological situation and taking action in the risk areas, and for setting up priorities. Data is also necessary to monitor the progress of interventions and evaluate the outcomes of control actions.

Indicators are specific variables that assist with the data analysis and provide tools for health authorities and people involved in disease control.

WHO has defined a new set of indicators at country and global level for CE and is developing reporting systems to guide and assist the countries on data collection and reporting.

At global level, the indicators are 1- Number of endemic countries for CE, and 2- Number of countries with intensified control in hyper endemic areas. An hyperendemic area has been defined as an area with an annual incidence of 5 human cases/100,000 people.

At country level there are epidemiological indicators and control progress indicators.  The epidemiological indicators include a combination of passive and active surveillance.  The control indicators include impact and outcome indicators. 

indicators for cystic echinococcosis

> 1 million

people worldwide are affected with echinococcosis at any one time

High risk

of contracting echinococcosis in rural areas in endemic countries

US $ 3 billion

Annual cost for treating cases and livestock industry compensation

Publications

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WHO guidelines for the treatment of patients with cystic echinococcosis
The purpose of these guidelines is to provide guidance on the choice of treatment so that patients (adults and children) with CE cysts can be offered and...
The Road to 2030
5 July 2022

The Road to 2030

In January 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a new road map to address the burden of disease and death imposed by neglected tropical...

Foodborne parasitic infections: Cystic and alveolar echinococcosis

Human echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by parasites of the genus Echinococcus. Of the several species worldwide, the two most important in humans are...

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